There’s a new movie dominating Netflix‘s charts worldwide that absolutely shouldn’t be missed. The streamer’s charts are often topped by new originals produced for its millions of subscribers. And while they often vary in genres, action movies frequently rise to the #1 spot on Netflix’s charts, as has been seen with Red One, Extraction, Carry On, Rebel Ridge, and more.

Hitting the streamer on March 6, there’s a brand new action sci-fi film that viewers just can’t get enough of. It’s called War Machine, and its the #1 movie in the United States and worldwide right now. The film immediately shot to the top of Netflix’s charts in America upon its release. It’s currently the top film in 92 of 93 countries as of March 10, according to FlixPatrol, and there are several reasons for its popularity.

War Machine Is An Entertaining Sci-Fi Action Movie

War Machine comes from director Patrick Hughes, who has plenty of experience in the action genre. He previously made The Expendables 3, The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Hitman’s Bodyguard’s Wife, and The Man from Toronto. This time, though, he’s infused his action films with some sci-fi elements.

The movie follows an unnamed Staff Sergeant who goes through RASP training two years after an attack in Afghanistan. After reaching the final stage of training, he and other hopeful rangers embark on the final mission, known as “Death March.” But the tough task takes an unexpected turn when they are attacked by an alien ship that has crashed on Earth.

What unfolds from this point on is an incredibly entertaining ride. War Machine is packed with action to keep viewers engaged throughout. After opening with the attack on Staff Sergeant 81, the film’s many encounters with the giant alien ship provide several big set pieces full of explosions and deaths. There’s also an element of the rangers overcoming various obstacles in the wilderness as they fight to survive.

Amid all the action, there’s natural tension as 81 and the rest of the group try to figure out what they’re up against and how to get to safety. There’s not much comedy that comes through it all, as War Machine plays it rather seriously, opting against any tongue-in-cheek or meta humor or even any comedic elements added in through less serious members of the team. This doesn’t hurt its entertainment value, though.

War Machine‘s runtime also adds to its enjoyment. The movie doesn’t overstay its welcome, working at a brisk 1 hour and 47 minutes. Rather than being overstuffed with filler and over-explaining the plot, the film keeps moving with a simplified perspective through the recruits’ survival.

And with a 69% score with critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 73% with audiences, it’s clear most people are enjoying the action sci-fi story.

War Machine Has A Talented Lead In Alan Ritchson

A key point in War Machine‘s favor comes through its lead: Alan Ritchson. The 43-year-old actor is perfectly suited for a role like Staff Sergeant 81.

From the moment he steps into frame, the 6’3 star works as a serious, hulking soldier. He might not have as many one-liners or sleeveless shirts as Arnold Schwarzenegger did in Predator, but there’s a clear archetype here for Ritchson to make his own. He does so by bringing a surprising level of reserved emotion and pain.

Whether it’s the emotional, dramatic, and action star requirements of War Machine, Ritchson tackles them all with ease. Perhaps that should come as no surprise considering his previous efforts in three seasons of Reacher or a scene-stealing supporting role in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.

Ritchson deserves a lot of praise for making War Machine work. The bulk of the film is on his broad shoulders, and it’s ultimately necessary for audiences to care about 81 and buy the emotional arc he’s on. But he’s also not alone.

A key strength of any lead is working well with the others around them. Despite the relational restrictions that come at times given 81’s characterization, the moments the film lets Ritchson show a bit more charisma to gain camaraderie with others make it better.

While most of War Machine‘s cast have much smaller roles compared to Ritchson, many make the most of their screentime. Stephen James, Blake Richardson, Keiynan Lonsdale, Jai Courtney, Dennis Quaid, and Esai Morales are a few actors a fair share of viewers will recognize. They all deliver strong work.

But again, Ritchson is the star, and his face being all over the film’s marketing and Netflix banners helps. Reacher is one of Prime Video’s biggest shows, so he’s known as an actor who will deliver engaging action stories on streaming already. War Machine adds to that profile.

War Machine Appeals To A Lot Of Viewers

Ben King/ © Netflix /Courtesy Everett Collection

The popularity that War Machine has achieved already makes sense given the genres it uses and its star. Anyone who likes Reacher and Ritchson’s presence there will not or should not hesitate to check his latest movie out. It’s a very different type of project but also one that still leans into his strengths as a performer, giving audiences more of what he’s good at.

There’s also the wide appeal that comes with any movie like War Machine. The action elements will pull in viewers looking for high-adrenaline stories. The sci-fi plot is rather simple but still satisfies that craving. It even contains a very strong similarity to survival war movies, such as Lone Survivor, that tend to do well with people.

War Machine also takes heavy inspiration from a variety of other well-received films. It has the military group hunted by an alien force like Predator, only this time with a giant machine instead of a Yautja.

The alien invasion plot is similar to plenty of sci-fi hits, such as War of the Worlds. And while less direct, I couldn’t shake the parallels to Captain America’s origin story in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, only Ritchson’s character didn’t need super soldier serum.

Ultimately, War Machine is an easy one-night watch to satisfy your action movie needs. It’s got a great star at the center in Alan Ritchson, plenty of well-crafted and exciting action sequences, and enough world-building to potentially support a franchise. With the way it mixes all its genres together, it’s no wonder the movie is trending worldwide on Netflix.

Release Date

March 6, 2026

Runtime

107 minutes

Director

Patrick Hughes

Writers

Patrick Hughes, James Beaufort

Producers

Todd Lieberman, Alexander Young, Patrick Hughes, Greg McLean, Rich Cook