Even 'Reacher's Alan Ritchson Can't Beat Bob Odenkirk's Action Hero in Shock Netflix Upset

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Alan Ritchson in his military gear stands outside in front of a tank in Netflix's War Machine

Published Mar 17, 2026, 4:30 PM EDT

Makuochi Echebiri is a News Writer for Collider. He has been interested in creative writing from as far back as high school, and he would consume pretty much anything that’s film or TV. However, his truest love lies in the presence of historical epics and thrillers.

Lured by the brilliance of Middle Earth from an early age both in print and on screen, his palate has since expanded to other realms including Westeros, Kattegat among others. He also possesses a great appetite for the stories that emanate from the vastness of space. Even though he is no Avenger.

Obsessed with storytelling and having works of his own that have yet to make it to print, he is content to use that ability to communicate to as many as are reachable. In his spare time, he looks out for avenues where he can aid people aside from his plans to reign over this earthly realm. Yes…you heard that first here.

Alan Ritchson’s latest sci-fi action outing, War Machine, has largely brought critics and audiences onto the same page about its quality. The film currently holds approval ratings of 70% from critics and 68% from audiences, suggesting a generally solid reception. While those figures are respectable, they also reflect a segment of viewers who remain unconvinced by the blockbuster spectacle. War Machine enjoyed a strong start on Netflix, spending its first two weeks as the platform’s most-watched movie. However, heading into its third week, the movie is struggling to maintain momentum in the US and has now lost its top spot to another surprising newcomer to the platform.

Many fans already see War Machine’s success on Netflix as a rare win for Ritchson, proving he can carry a major movie blockbuster just as effectively as he does a TV series. The role also leans heavily into the kind of physicality that Reacher fans have come to love him for. In the film, Ritchson plays an unnamed Staff Sergeant known only as “81,” an Afghan war veteran who survives a deadly encounter with the Taliban. In the aftermath, he sets out to honor the dying wish of his fallen comrades by enrolling in the brutal training program to become an Army Ranger. Much of the film’s action centers on that grueling journey, which quickly spirals out of control when an elite training exercise turns into a desperate fight for survival against an alien threat.

Ritchson's performance has earned the strongest praise, even as critics fault War Machine's formulaic story. In his review, Collider’s Aidan Kelley appreciated the movie’s clear nods to Predator but argued the central threat, a Metal Gear Solid-like robot, felt fairly routine. In all, he still deems it a fun enough streaming adventure. It now appears that audiences have quickly grown bored with the adventure as Nobody 2 has surprisingly overtaken War Machine to become the number one movie on the US charts. The sequel to Bob Odenkirk’s John Wick-esque 2021 hit only arrived on Netflix two days ago, making its rapid surge more impressive. It signals the movie's continuous popularity among home audiences, which first began on digital platforms right after its underwhelming box office performance.

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Should 'War Machine' Get a Sequel?

War Machine marks another major attempt by Netflix to launch a large-scale tentpole franchise. As with many of the platform’s blockbuster projects, the long-term plan would likely involve a sequel if the numbers justify it. Writer-director Patrick Hughes has already mapped out where the story could go next should the streamer give the green light. In a recent interview, Hughes explained that while he designed the film as a complete standalone story, he also knows exactly how a continuation would go. He added that he had become deeply invested in the character of Staff Sergeant 81 and the world around him, and would be ready to move forward immediately if the opportunity arose. Whether War Machine draws enough views to justify a follow-up remains to be seen.

Both War Machine and Nobody 2 are streaming on Netflix. Stay tuned for more streaming updates.