Netflix’s New R-Rated Sci-Fi Thriller With Reacher Star Debuts To Solid Rotten Tomatoes Score

Reviews are in for War Machine, and Netflix's new Alan Ritchson collaboration is off to a respectable start on Rotten Tomatoes.

Ritchson is best known for leading the cast of Reacher on Prime Video as the titular hero, but, since the show's debut in 2022, he has also been making a splash in the world of movies. War Machine marks Ritchson's latest starring feature film role, with the R-rated action sci-fi hitting the streamer on March 6.

Following the film's release on Netflix, a Rotten Tomatoes score for War Machine has now taken shape, and Ritchson's latest is holding steady at 68% from 28 reviews. Though more lukewarm than glowingly positive, this score still earns the film a "fresh" designation. It's still possible this score could fluctuate as more reviews are added, however.

The critics' score comes in just behind the audience-driven Popcornmeter, which is more positive at 73%. The Popcornmeter has been generated from more than 250 viewer ratings, but, like the critics' score, it could change as more people get a chance to watch the film.

Directed by Patrick Hughes with a script by Hughes and James Beaufort, War Machine follows the final recruits at a special forces boot camp who encounter a deadly robot while on a training mission. In addition to Ritchson, who stars as 81, the cast includes Dennis Quaid, Stephen James, Jai Courtney, Esai Morales, Blake Richardson, and Alex King, among others.

The Rotten Tomatoes score is more or less in line with Alexander Harrison's War Machine review for ScreenRant. Harrison awards the film a six out of 10, praising the building of tension and some early action sequences, even if the film fails to sustain the intensity and visual quality through to its conclusion. He writes:

This first encounter scene is truly great stuff. Hughes builds on the strong setup by pacing this moment for maximum tension, and the VFX work is at its strongest here, but War Machine's greatest strength is the physicality of its action. Through some magic cocktail of performance, camera work, editing, and sound, physical exertion or injury is communicated to the viewer almost as sensation. The first time these soldiers flee the machine, which results in a great deal of exertion and injury, is gripping.

Even if the VFX are spotty in places and the script doesn't break any new ground in the sci-fi genre, critics mostly agree that War Machine's old-school action thrills and Ritchson's leading man charisma make for a fun watch. It's too early to say how big of a hit it will be for Netflix, but it's possible the film's high-concept premise and gritty action will make it a winner for the streamer.

If the film can drum up strong viewership, the War Machine ending paves the way for a sequel. Nothing has been announced just yet, but Hughes and Ritchson recently told ScreenRant that ideas are already in place for a follow-up

“I fell in love with the character of 81, and the universe of sort of everything he's going through," Hughes says. "So look, if that call comes in, then yes, I'm ready to pull the trigger.”

Ritchson adds that the potential sequel is "going to be sick." He adds: "The whole thing, we got a whole thing," hinting at further franchise expansion if the desire from audiences is there.

It's still early days for War Machine, but the generally positive reviews from critics and audiences are a promising sign that Netflix has another hit on its hands. Ritchson's leading-man movie career is evidently just getting started.

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