A24’s Big Budget War Movie ‘Civil War’ Is a Streaming Success on Prime Video in the US

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A critically acclaimed war film, released just two years ago, is currently gaining a lot of attention on streaming platforms. While many war movies are based on actual historical events – like Saving Private Ryan and Dunkirk focusing on World War II, or Full Metal Jacket and Apocalypse Now portraying the Vietnam War – this new film stands out. Recent films such as Jarhead, The Hurt Locker, American Sniper, and Green Zone have covered the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2024, A24 released its first large-scale war movie, which, though set during a fictional conflict, is praised for its incredibly realistic and gritty portrayal of war.

Alex Garland, known for directing Ex Machina and co-writing 28 Years Later, helms Civil War, A24’s first big action film. However, staying true to A24’s style, it’s not a typical action movie filled with explosions and heroic moments. The film is set during a fictional second American Civil War, where the Western Forces (California and Texas) are fighting against the US Army and the President. It follows a team of war photographers as they rush to Washington D.C., hoping to capture images before the WF seizes the city and the President is killed. Their goal isn’t to stop the conflict, but to be the first to document it. Civil War is a brutal depiction of war and violence, but it also raises questions about the ethics of war photography. While it can inform the public about terrible events, it also profits from and potentially exploits the pain and trauma of others.

Alex Garland’s latest film, Civil War, boasts a strong cast, led by Kirsten Dunst as a seasoned war photographer. Cailee Spaeny plays a young, ambitious photographer eager to prove herself. The movie also features Wagner Moura, Jesse Plemons, Nick Offerman, and Stephen McKinley Henderson. Currently available on Prime Video, Civil War has surprisingly climbed back into the platform’s Top 10, just behind Chris Hemsworth’s Crime 101.

‘Civil War’ Is a Masterpiece You’ll Only Want to Watch Once

Alex Garland’s film, Civil War, is technically brilliant – the script, direction, acting (particularly Jesse Plemons), and stunning visuals from cinematographer Rob Hardy are all top-notch. However, despite its quality, it’s a movie most people will likely only see once. If you do decide to watch it again, it’s best to wait a few weeks between viewings.

Describing Civil War as difficult to watch would be an understatement. The film doesn’t shy away from showing the brutal reality of violence, and every act of aggression feels impactful. We experience this violence through the eyes of Jessie, a character who, like the audience, is unprepared for such intense and graphic scenes.

Was ‘Civil War’ a Success?

Despite costing $50 million to make – around the same amount spent on food for a Marvel Avengers movie – A24’s Civil War earned $127 million in theaters. While financially successful, this wasn’t the blockbuster A24 probably expected. The film received mixed reactions, scoring 81% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, some of whom felt it sensationalized violence – a central theme of the movie. Audience scores were even lower at 69%. It seems many viewers missed the point that Civil War isn’t really about the reasons for the conflict, but rather a look at the experience of war through the lens of a photographer.

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2026-04-14 19:20