WAR MACHINE

(director/writer: Patrick Hughes; screenwriter: James Beaufort, story by Patrick Hughes; cinematographer: Aaron Morton; editor: Andy Canny; music: Dmitri Golovko; cast: Alan Ritchson (81), Dennis Quaid (Sergeant-Major Sheridan), Stephen James (7), Jai Courtney (Squad Leader), Esai Morales (Torres), Blake Richardson (15), Keiynan Lonsdale (60), Daniel Webber (57); Runtime: 106; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Rich Cook,Patrick Hughes, Todd Lieberman, Greg McLean, Alexander Young; Netflix; 2026-USA/UK)

“You don’t have to believe in aliens to be a believer.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Aussie filmmaker Patrick Hughes (“Red Hill”/”The Hitman’s Bodyguard”) directs and writes this absurd sci-fi alien film. It’s based on his story and is co-written by him and James Beaufort.


Alan Ritchson (his dad was an Air Force master sergeant) plays a US Army staff sergeant during the war in Afghanistan. In Kabul, he comes to the aid of his younger brother (Jai Courtney) whose convoy broke down. The brothers take time to talk during this break about both signing up for the Rangers, their dream career jobs. Suddenly they come under attack from the insurgents and Ritchson’s brother is killed. Two years later he joins the Rangers and trains with them in Colorado (shot in Australia), where he’s given the number 81. But he’s not accepted by the Rangers because he can’t bond with the other trainees and he turns down a command assignment. On his first exercise with the trainees, they find a giant robot alien who starts wiping them out. 81 unites with the survivors and they heroically fight off the alien under his leadership.

You don’t have to believe in aliens to be a believer, but it would help more if the story wasn’t so alien. In any event, it’s Ritchson’s stoical, physical and laconic performance that at least makes it somewhat entertaining.

REVIEWED ON 4/5/2026  GRADE: B-
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