A24’s ‘Warfare’: Alex Garland’s Iraq War Thriller Sparks Mixed Reactions

A24 has established itself as a powerhouse in the film industry, celebrated for its bold, boundary-pushing approach to storytelling. Known for producing and distributing emotionally resonant, artistically driven films and television series, the studio has earned a devoted fanbase and widespread critical acclaim. By championing independent filmmakers and embracing creative risks, A24 continues to redefine the landscape of modern cinema.

A year after transforming a domestic political nightmare into indie box office success with 'Civil War,' Alex Garland is set to reunite with a trusted collaborator for his next military thriller.

Garland teams up once again with Ray Mendoza, a former Navy SEAL and Iraq War veteran who served as military supervisor on ‘Civil War,’ to co-write and direct ‘Warfare.’ The upcoming A24 film focuses on Navy SEALs operating in Iraq. According to the official synopsis, the story “embeds audiences with a platoon of American Navy SEALs in the home of an Iraqi family, overwatching the movement of US forces through insurgent territory. A visceral, boots-on-the-ground story of modern warfare, told like never before: in real time and based on the memory of the people who lived it.”

The film's announcement generated significant buzz online, with many expressing excitement for ‘Warfare’. However, when A24's official X account released the trailer, the replies were quickly inundated with users voicing their discontent with the studio.

Here are some of the most liked replies to the ‘Warfare’ trailer on X:

Action films set during the Iraq War, such as The ‘Hurt Locker,’ ‘American Sniper,’ and ‘Zero Dark Thirty,’ achieved significant success in the United States throughout the decade following the 2003 invasion. However, American attitudes toward the war have shifted drastically over time. According to Pew Research Center, the percentage of Republicans and Republican-leaning U.S. citizens “who said the U.S. made the right decision in military force in Iraq” dropped from 89% in 2003 to 61% in 2018. Among Democrats and Democrat-leaning citizens, the numbers fell from 53% in 2003 to 27% in 2018. This change in perspective may explain the war fatigue in media that many audiences seem to be experiencing.

This film appears to confirm what the studio signaled back in 2023: a desire to expand into more mainstream, commercial films. According to a post on The Future Party Newsletter in 2023, “A24 is looking to expand into action fare and more IP-driven projects because, for all the brand loyalty the studio has, many of its films have struggled financially. That pivot would be an accompaniment to its typical arthouse titles, not a replacement, giving the independent studio a wide variety of releases.”

‘Warfare’ represents a bold move for A24, pushing into more mainstream action territory while grappling with the complex legacy of the Iraq War. The film’s potential lies in its ability to explore the human cost of conflict through nuanced storytelling, shedding light on the perspectives of those directly impacted, both soldiers and civilians. As attitudes toward the war and U.S. foreign policy continue to evolve, ‘Warfare’ could serve as a powerful cultural touchpoint, prompting critical reflection on the narratives that have shaped public understanding of modern warfare.

The offical trailer for 'Warfare' can be seen here.