Director Alex Garland returns to the battlefield with his latest film, Warfare, which he co-wrote and co-directed with Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza. The Civil War follow-up plunges viewers into the frontlines of the very real, very brutal, and not-so-distant Iraq War, circa 2006.
If you missed it in theaters, there are a few different ways you can watch Warfare at home. Here's what you need to know to tune in.
What is Warfare about?
Based on a real mission in Ramadi, Iraq, Warfare follows a platoon of American Navy SEALs on a mission gone wrong in enemy territory. It's a gritty and immersive dive into the perils of modern combat and brotherhood. You won't find any political commentary or sugar-coated fairytale endings. As Mashable's reviewer described it, the boots-on-the-ground perspective translates into an "agonizing portrait of the perils of war, its demands on young soldiers, and the merciless reality of combat."
Or, as co-director and co-writer Ray Mendoza put it, "Reality doesn't let people off the hook."
Check out the first-look trailer:
Is Warfare worth watching?
With an impressive 93 percent critic and audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it's clear that people are impressed by A24's Warfare. That being said, it's certainly not for everyone.
"It's both a tribute to the bravery shown in the face of battle by a group of young Navy SEALs and a brutal slog that immerses audiences into the gritty reality of war, viscera and all," Mashable's reviewer, Monica Castillo, writes. She adds that though she admires the honesty of the film, she was left unsure how to feel.
"I winced at the sight of limbs dangling like broken dolls, soaked beet-red from blood. War is hell, and if you had any other such notions, Warfare should help set the record straight," Castillo adds.
Read our full review of Warfare.
How to watch Warfare at home
Warfare launched into theaters on April 11, 2025. If you missed Garland and Mendoza's brutally honest war drama on the big screen or you can't wait to watch it again, there are a few different ways to watch it at home as of Sept. 12: purchasing via digital video-on-demand, renting via digital video-on-demand, and, of course, streaming.
Buy or rent on digital
As of May 6, Warfare is available to purchase or rent on digital video-on-demand platforms like Prime Video. You can buy the movie for your digital library or rent it for 30 days. If you choose to rent, you'll have 30 days to watch, but only 48 hours to finish once you begin.
You can purchase and rent the film at the following retailers:
Prime Video — buy for $19.99, rent for $5.99
Apple TV — buy for $19.99, rent for $5.99
Fandango at Home (Vudu) — buy for $19.99, rent for $5.99
YouTube — buy for $19.99, rent starting at $4.99
Google Play — buy for $19.99, rent starting at $4.99
Stream it on HBO Max
The A24 war drama made its streaming debut on HBO Max on Sept. 12. Warner Bros. Discovery penned a deal with A24 in December 2023 to bring the distributor's theatrical releases to HBO Max, so it comes as no surprise that Warfare is available on the streamer.
HBO Max subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but there are a few different ways to save some money on your plan. Check out the best streaming deals below.
The best HBO Max streaming deals
Best for most people: Save 16% on HBO Max Basic annual subscription
The Basic HBO Max plan with ads typically goes for $9.99 per month, but if you pay for an entire year upfront, the price drops down to just $8.33 per month. An annual plan is $99.99 total, which saves you about 16% compared to paying each month.
Best Max deal with no ads: Save up to 16% on HBO Max Standard annual subscription
If you'd rather go ad-free, the annual Max Standard or Premium plans will also save about 16% over the monthly plans. The Standard tier costs either $16.99 per month or $169.99 per year (about $14.16 per month), while the Premium tier costs either $20.99 per month or $209.99 per year (about $17.50 per month). While both tiers offer ad-free viewing, the Premium tier goes a step further with 4K Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos immersive audio, and the ability to download more offline content.
Get HBO Max for free: Switch to Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan
If you switch your phone plan to Cricket's $60 per month Supreme Unlimited plan, you'll get HBO Max included for free. When you open up the HBO Max app or website, you'll just select Cricket as your provider and use your credentials to log in. That's it.
Get HBO Max for free: Sign up for DashPass annual plan
If you're looking to get HBO Max for free in 2025, another option is to sign up for the DoorDash DashPass annual plan for $96 per year ($8 per month). A DashPass membership includes $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders all year long, plus a complimentary HBO Max subscription (with ads). Just activate the subscription through your DoorDash account to get started. If you'd rather watch ad-free, you can also upgrade for a discounted rate.
Best HBO Max deal for students: Save 50% on HBO Max Basic with ads
College students can expand their movie horizons by signing up for an entire year of HBO Max with ads for half price. Just verify your student status with UNiDAYS and retrieve the unique discount code to drop the price from $9.99 to $4.99 per month.
Best bundle deal: Get HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 43% off
For the most bang for your buck, check out the Disney+ bundle deal that includes Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max for just $16.99 per month with ads. That lineup of streamers would usually cost you $29.97 per month, so you'll keep an extra $13 in your pocket monthly.
If you'd rather go ad-free, the bundle will run you $29.99 per month as opposed to $50.97. That's up to 43% in savings for access to all three streaming libraries.
