Alan Ritchson’s new Netflix action sci-fi War Machine is the ideal weekend watch

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Before Alan Ritchson returns as Jack Reacher in season four of the popular Prime Video series, he’s starring in Netflix’s new action movie, War Machine. It’s a fun, fast-paced film that feels like a mix of Reacher and Predator – and it’s available to stream now.

Patrick Hughes, who also co-wrote the screenplay with James Beaufort, directs War Machine. The film stars Joe Ritchson as a soldier hoping to become a US Army Ranger, a goal he once shared with his brother (played by Jai Courtney). While the reason his brother isn’t with him isn’t revealed right away, the movie quickly establishes what happened to him.

The first part of War Machine feels like many other military films. We see Ritchson’s character, now called 81, endure eight weeks of tough training. As expected, he’s one of the few who make it to the “Death March,” the incredibly difficult final test.

The training exercise quickly becomes a life-or-death situation when 81’s team encounters an incredibly powerful alien robot. This machine can track them down no matter where they hide and eliminate them with a single blast. However, this robot hasn’t faced anyone like 81, and he’s determined to put up a fierce fight.

The film transforms War Machine into a fast-paced action movie that doesn’t take itself seriously. It’s definitely over-the-top – there’s a scene with someone surviving a waterfall while on a stretcher, and some ridiculously dramatic moments – but that’s exactly what you want from a movie about Reacher battling a giant alien robot. It delivers exactly what it promises.

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Alan Ritchson is perfectly suited for this role. He can deliver the witty lines the movie needs, and surprisingly, he manages to bring some emotional complexity to what could have been a very simple character.

He’s a fantastic action hero, and while it’s a shame he doesn’t get to physically fight the robot, he convincingly portrays the urgency and excitement of the movie’s excellent action scenes. A particularly memorable five-minute chase sequence, where his team tries to escape the robot in a vehicle, is a highlight, but all the action sequences are well-executed and thrilling.

Don’t expect War Machine to be the best film you see all month – or even this weekend, for that matter. However, it’s a solid 100-plus minutes of action that’s perfect for relaxing and escaping, making it a great choice for a casual weekend watch.

And really, we could all use a bit of that right now.

War Machine is available to watch now on Netflix.

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2026-03-06 11:19