Warfare is now available on physical media thanks to A24, and it’s a release that absolutely deserves a place in any serious film collector’s library. As a film, Warfare is one of the most heart-stopping, emotionally jarring war movies in recent memory. It has all the ingredients to be considered this generation’s Full Metal Jacket (1987), not just for its brutal realism, but for the way it lingers long after the credits roll. This is a film that hits hard, pulls no punches, and leaves a mark.
L-R: Co-directors Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland on the set of WARFARE. Photo courtesy of A24.
Directed by real-life war veteran Ray Mendoza alongside Civil War-helmer Alex Garland, Warfare is a no-holds-barred cinematic experience. The raw authenticity Mendoza brings combined with Garland’s cerebral intensity results in a war film that feels both grounded in truth and elevated by artful direction. Unlike typical war stories adapted from books or screenwriters’ imaginations, Warfare is crafted from first-hand recollections. The narrative is built solely from what actual veterans remembered from their mission — no embellishments, no polished Hollywood arcs.
WARFARE digipak exterior. Photo courtesy of A24.
That foundation gives Warfare its core identity: a brutally honest look into the chaos and confusion of combat. As in Garland’s Civil War (2024), one of the most immersive aspects of Warfare is its sound design. The audio is masterfully engineered to drop the viewer straight into the heart of battle. Gunfire doesn’t just echo, it surrounds. Explosions rattle your chest. Silence, when it happens, feels like a vacuum. Watching the film in theaters was a visceral experience and the home release maintains nearly all of that intensity thanks to an absolutely stunning audio transfer.
L-R: Joseph Quinn and D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai in WARFARE. Photo Credit: Murray Close. Photo courtesy of A24.
A24 has gone above and beyond in preserving the sonic atmosphere, ensuring that even on a home system, the film’s impact remains deeply felt. The video transfer is equally impressive. The gritty, handheld cinematography retains all of its visual punch on Blu-ray with a balance between sharp detail and the intentionally chaotic aesthetic that mirrors the mental state of the soldiers onscreen. There’s no artificial polish, this is a war film that looks and feels like war. Dirt, sweat, smoke, blood — it’s all captured in raw detail, making this one of the strongest physical releases A24 has put out to date. Performance-wise, the ensemble cast truly delivers. There’s a strong sense of camaraderie and tension among the soldiers, and it never feels forced or performative.
WARFARE digipak interior. Photo courtesy of A24.
One standout is Michael Gandolfini (Beau Is Afraid; The Many Saints of Newark), whose performance is both quietly powerful and emotionally devastating. He brings a sense of vulnerability and confusion to the role that’s essential to the story’s perspective. His work here cements him as an actor to watch.
L-R: Joseph Quinn, Michael Gandolfini, Joe Macaulay, Henrique Zaga, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Kit Connor, Noah Centineo, Taylor John Smith, Adain Bradley, Cosmo Jarvis, Charles Melton in WARFARE. Photo Credit: Murray Close. Photo courtesy of A24.
As for the physical release itself, A24 has included a solid batch of special features that offer further insight into the making of the film. The highlight is a featurette titled “Courage Under Fire,” a behind-the-scenes look at the production that includes interviews with the directors, cast, and actual veterans who inspired the story. There’s also a compelling audio commentary that sheds light on key moments in the film and the challenges of filming such an emotionally intense story while honoring the real experiences behind it. In the end, Warfare is more than just a war movie, it’s a deeply human story about memory, trauma, brotherhood, and survival. It doesn’t glorify combat, nor does it overly moralize.
L-R: Actor Will Poulter and co-director Ray Mendoza on the set of WARFARE. Photo Credit: Murray Close. Photo courtesy of A24.
It just presents the experience as it was remembered: fragmented, intense, and terrifyingly real. With Mendoza’s lived experience guiding the film and Garland’s masterful cinematic voice shaping it, Warfare stands as a towering achievement in the war genre. Whether you’re a fan of war films or just powerful storytelling, this is a film — and a physical release — you shouldn’t miss.
Warfare Special Features:
- Commentary with Ray Mendoza, Alex Garland, and Military Consultant Brian Philpot
- Courage Under Fire: The Making of Warfare featurette
- Set of Six Collectible Postcards with Behind-the-Scenes Photography by Alex Brockdorff
Available on digital May 6th, 2025.
Available on 4K UHD and Blu-ray July 1st, 2025.
For more information, head to the official A24 Warfare website.
To purchase, head to the official A24 Store Warfare webpage.
Final Score: 5 out of 5.
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Categories: Films To Watch, Home Release, Recommendation
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