Netflix Sci-Fi Action Movie War Machine Delivers Old School Thrills
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Polygon reviews Netflix's new sci-fi action movie War Machine, starring Alan Ritchson as an elite soldier forced to survive an alien attack during a brutal military training exercise.
For players looking to step away from the controller and catch a movie with similar energy to your favorite squad based shooters, Netflix has a new offering on the table. In her review for Polygon, critic Tasha Robinson breaks down War Machine, a gritty sci-fi action film starring Reacher lead Alan Ritchson. Directed by Patrick Hughes, the movie leans heavily on classic creature feature inspirations like Predator and Aliens, trading complicated lore for straightforward survival stakes and practical stunt work.
The plot follows Ritchson as an emotionally guarded Army sergeant entering the notoriously brutal Ranger Assessment and Selection Program. Just as the grueling physical trials push the candidates to their absolute limits, a hostile alien machine crash lands in their remote training zone. What starts as a military simulation quickly spirals into a high stakes fight for survival. Ritchson and his squadmates have to push past their differences, put aside their personal traumas, and figure out how to cooperate if they want to make it off the mountain alive.
While the character development stays pretty standard for the genre, focusing more on archetype roles than deep backstory, the movie leans into what works best. It delivers relentless pacing, high physical commitment from its lead actor, and massive action set pieces. For a generation raised on co-op campaigns, extraction shooters, and the thrill of clutching a difficult match with random teammates, War Machine offers an entertaining two hour diversion that captures that same nail biting team survival dynamic.
Tags: Movies, Netflix, Sci-Fi, Action, Streaming
Original article: Polygon