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Action drama

Warfare (2025): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Warfare (2025) movie poster

Warfare is a 2025 action drama directed by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza, starring D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Ray, Will Poulter and Cosmo Jarvis. It runs 1 hour 35 minutes and earned $35.1 million worldwide on a $20 million budget. It earned 3 award nominations, including Best Cinematography at the Spirit Awards 2026. Critics gave it 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 78 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10.

IMDb rating
7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes
92%
worldwide gross
$35.1M
award nominations
3
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Warfare (2025) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 35m (95 min)
Directors
Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza
Genres
Action , Drama , War
Original language
English
Studio
A24
Budget
$20M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Warfare About?

The premise of Warfare without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

This film offers a visceral and immersive look at modern warfare, following a platoon of American Navy SEALs embedded with an Iraqi family. The story unfolds in real time, overwatching the movement of US forces through insurgent territory and based on the memories of those who experienced it firsthand.

Warfare Themes & Keywords

· 20 tags
  • soldier
  • iraq war
  • army
  • 2000s
  • year 2006
  • commando
  • 21st century
  • military
  • docudrama drama
  • epic war
  • gunner
  • communicator
+8 more
  • based on real people
  • sniper
  • weapon
  • assault rifle
  • battlefield
  • battle
  • gun
  • based on true story
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Cast & crew

Warfare Cast & Characters

D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai leads the cast as Ray, with Will Poulter as Erik and Cosmo Jarvis as Elliott. Directed by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza; 20 actors are credited in all.

From the directors

More from Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza

More films directed by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza, best-rated first: Ex Machina, Civil War, Annihilation and Men.

Ratings

Warfare Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Warfare 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 78 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 60/100, strongest in art & craft (85) and weakest in rewatch factor (35).

60 /100

Warfare Echo Score Breakdown

While Warfare excels in technical prowess and immersive atmosphere, its sparse narrative and limited character development hinder its broader impact. Many reviews highlight the film’s unflinching depiction of combat, praising its austere direction, precise cinematography, and visceral tension. However, the deliberate pacing and focus on authenticity over dramatic arcs leave viewers questioning the emotional stakes. The result is a film that engages the senses and conveys futility effectively, yet it falls short of delivering a cohesive storyline or lasting emotional resonance.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 85

    In terms of art and craft, Warfare showcases rigorous technical skill and a disciplined visual approach. Reviews consistently note Garland’s control of framing, the clarity of sound editing, and a stark production design that underscores the film’s tension. The austere color palettes and seamless cuts heighten the immersive realism. Overall, the film’s craftsmanship is a convincing achievement.

  • Character & Emotion 55

    When it comes to character and emotion, Warfare elicits mixed responses. The cast’s grounded performances are praised for authenticity, yet the deliberate omission of personal backstories limits emotional depth. Reviewers appreciate the raw immediacy of the soldiers’ reactions, but many note a lack of empathetic connection or character arcs to anchor audience investment. This results in strong realism but muted emotional engagement.

  • Story & Flow 50

    In terms of story and flow, Warfare presents a minimalistic narrative that divides opinion. Some critics value the film’s focus on authenticity and tension over conventional plot, while others criticize the absence of contextual grounding and coherent story arcs. The pacing, marked by prolonged sequences of waiting, heightens realism but may undermine momentum. Ultimately, the narrative ambition remains restrained and delivers limited engagement.

  • Sensory Experience 85

    When it comes to sensory experience, Warfare delivers a compelling immersion in combat’s raw intensity. Reviews highlight the film’s powerful sound design, punctuated by unsettling silences and realistic gunfire. The cinematography’s interplay of light and shadow, coupled with an unembellished score, enhances the visceral impact. This cohesive sensory approach firmly anchors the audience in the harrowing conditions of battle.

  • Rewatch Factor 35

    In terms of rewatch factor, Warfare is regarded as a challenging experience with limited repeat appeal. Critics report that its unrelenting brutality and austere pacing can induce fatigue on subsequent viewings. While the film’s authenticity is compelling initially, the lack of narrative progression and emotional reprieve reduces lasting appeal, making it unlikely to inspire multiple returns.

Plot

Warfare Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Warfare from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

November 19th, 2006, Ramadi, Iraq – The film opens with the text indicating that Navy SEAL team Alpha One is on a mission in the area, specifically hunting for a group of snipers. We are introduced to the members of Alpha One, who can be found at their base enjoying a brief respite while watching a music video. Among them are communications officer Ray Mendoza, played by D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, the Officer in Charge Erik portrayed by Will Poulter, the lead sniper Elliot Miller played by Cosmo Jarvis, gunner Tommy portrayed by Kit Connor, the lead Petty Officer Sam played by Joseph Quinn, and Lieutenant Macdonald portrayed by Michael Gandolfini.

Full summary

The whole story of Warfare, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Warfare Box Office & Budget

Warfare grossed $35.1 million worldwide on a $20 million budget, 1.8 times what it cost. $26 million came from the US and Canada and $9.1 million (26%) from the rest of the world.

2025 box office

Worldwide gross

$35.1M

1.8× its budget

US & Canada
$26M
International
$9.1M
Budget
$20M
US & Canada 74% Rest of the world 26%
Awards

Warfare Awards & Nominations

Warfare earned 3 award nominations, including Best Cinematography at the Spirit Awards 2026. The 3 nominations come from 2 ceremonies, the most at the Spirit Awards 2026.

3 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

Warfare Trailers & Videos

10 videos: 1 trailer, 4 teasers, 1 clip, 2 featurettes and 2 behind-the-scenes videos.

All 10 videos
Official Trailer
  • Teaser Official Featurette
  • Teaser Probe Review
  • Teaser Look for the blood and the smoke.
  • Teaser Official Featurette
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Warfare?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
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  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What date does the movie 'Warfare from 2025' begin?

Cars

Cars in Warfare

3 cars on screen, including the GKN Defence FV 432 and the 1988 Peugeot 405 Break.

  • GKN Defence FV 432 in Warfare GKN Defence FV 432 Important role
  • 1988 Peugeot 405 Break in Warfare 1988 Peugeot 405 Break Minor role
  • 1987 Mitsubishi L-200 in Warfare 1987 Mitsubishi L-200 Background role
Details

Warfare Also Known As

24 alternative titles, including “战·争” and “Tiempo de guerra”.

Also known as
  • 战·争
  • Tiempo de guerra
  • Под огнём
  • Warfare: Tiempo de guerra
  • حرب
  • Válka
  • 워페어
  • 戰役
  • יחידת העילית
  • Бойові дії
  • Tempo de Guerra
  • Wojna
+12 more
  • Война
  • جنگاوری
  • Warfare - Tempo di guerra, ომის საფასური
  • Ký Ức Chiến Tranh
  • Çatışma
  • Karas
  • Ratovanje
  • Război
  • Ратовање
  • Εχθροπραξίες
  • Hadviselés
  • Guerra

Seen Warfare?

FAQ

Warfare FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Warfare, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Warfare?

Warfare runs 1 hour 35 minutes (95 minutes).

When was Warfare released?

Warfare was released on April 11, 2025.

Who directed Warfare?

Warfare was directed by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza.

More films by Alex Garland

Who is in the cast of Warfare?

Warfare stars D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Ray, Will Poulter as Erik and Cosmo Jarvis as Elliott, among 20 credited actors.

How much did Warfare make at the box office?

Warfare grossed $35.1 million worldwide ($26 million domestic, $9.1 million international) on a budget of $20 million.

How is Warfare rated?

Warfare has 7.1/10 on IMDb, 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 78 on Metacritic and 71% on TMDB.

Was Warfare nominated for any awards?

Warfare received 3 nominations across 2 ceremonies.

Does Warfare have a post-credit scene?

No. Warfare has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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