TL;DR: War Machine just hit Netflix on March 6, and it is currently the #1 movie in the world. It’s a gritty, R-rated sci-fi survival flick starring Alan Ritchson (aka Reacher) as a Ranger recruit who stumbles onto a killer alien robot. While the first movie is barely 48 hours old, the internet is already losing it over War Machine 2 (tentatively titled War Machines). If your teen is asking to watch it, know that this isn't a "fun" superhero movie—it's a brutal survival thriller with some serious gore.
Ask our chatbot about age-appropriate sci-fi alternatives
If you haven’t seen the trailer yet, imagine Predator met Full Metal Jacket and they had a baby with a giant, bipedal killer robot.
The story follows a soldier known only as "81" (played by a massive, stoic Alan Ritchson) who is trying to survive the U.S. Army’s Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP). It starts as a hyper-realistic military drama, but about 40 minutes in, it takes a hard left turn into sci-fi horror. The recruits find a crashed alien craft in the woods, and then the "War Machine" wakes up.
It’s directed by Patrick Hughes, the guy behind The Hitman's Bodyguard, and it’s a total throwback to the 80s action era where the heroes are huge and the stakes are simple: survive or get pulverized.
The first movie ends on a massive cliffhanger that practically screams "this is just the beginning." Without spoiling too much, the final shots reveal that the single robot 81 fought wasn't just a random anomaly—it was a scout.
Director Patrick Hughes and Alan Ritchson have already been doing the press rounds confirming that a sequel is "fully mapped out." Ritchson has even joked that they're calling it War Machines—a direct nod to how Aliens raised the stakes from the first Alien.
The fan theories are already flying on TikTok and Reddit:
- The Global Invasion: The sequel will likely move from the isolated woods to a global scale.
- 81’s Backstory: We still don't know his real name or why he’s so "haunted."
- The Origin of the Bots: Are they alien, or are they high-tech "black ops" projects gone wrong?
Look, I’ll be honest: War Machine isn't winning any Oscars for "Best Screenplay." It’s "Reacher vs. Robots." It’s loud, it’s visceral, and it’s very masculine in that "stoic suffering" kind of way.
But is it "brain rot"? Not necessarily. Unlike the endless cycle of "Skibidi Toilet" memes or low-effort YouTube shorts, this is a well-crafted survival story. It’s about teamwork, resourcefulness, and the psychological toll of combat. It’s a "popcorn movie" in the truest sense—it’s meant to be an adrenaline rush, not a deep philosophical lecture.
The Violence Factor: This is where I need to pull no punches. This movie is hard R. We’re talking about:
- Graphic Gore: Broken limbs, heads being vaporized by lasers, and some pretty gnarly scenes of charred skin.
- Intensity: The robot is terrifying. It doesn't just shoot at people; it hunts them. It’s a 107-minute panic attack.
- Language: It’s a military movie. The F-bombs are frequent.
If your kid is under 15, this is likely a "hard pass" unless you’re okay with them seeing some fairly realistic trauma. If they’re 16 or 17 and have seen John Wick or Extraction, they’ll handle it fine, but maybe don't let the 10-year-old wander in during the third act.
If your kid sees the "Cool Robot" thumbnail on Netflix and starts begging to watch it, but they aren't ready for the "Ranger getting ripped in half" scenes, here are some better ways to scratch that itch:
The Wild Robot (Ages 7+)
If you want a robot story that actually has a soul and won't give them nightmares, this is the gold standard. It’s beautiful, emotional, and deals with survival in a way that builds empathy rather than just an elevated heart rate.
Horizon Zero Dawn (Ages 12+)
If they want to fight the robots, this is the game to get. It’s got the "primitive weapons vs. high-tech machines" vibe of War Machine, but it’s much more strategic and the world-building is actually incredible. No bank-account-draining microtransactions here, just a solid single-player adventure.
Titanfall 2 (Ages 13+)
This is a first-person shooter, but the campaign is legendary for the bond between a soldier and his giant robot (BT-7274). It’s got the military grit, but it feels more like a sci-fi adventure than a horror movie.
Transformers: One (Ages 8+)
For the kids who just want to see big metal things hit each other. It’s colorful, funny, and keeps the "war" part of "War Machine" at a safe, animated distance.
If your teen has already watched it (maybe at a friend's house, let's be real), don't freak out. Use it as a conversation starter.
- "What did you think of 81’s leadership?" The movie actually does a decent job showing how the main character has to step up and lead a team he didn't want to be part of.
- "Did the violence feel 'real' or 'movie-fake'?" Talking about the "cartoonish" nature of gore can help de-sensitize the shock and turn it into a discussion about practical effects and CGI.
- "What do you think the sequel will be about?" This is the fun part. Let them nerd out about the alien invasion theories. It builds narrative reasoning skills and, honestly, it’s just fun to speculate.
War Machine is the first big "event" movie of 2026 for the action crowd. It’s gritty, it’s unapologetically violent, and Alan Ritchson is officially our new Schwarzenegger.
Is a sequel coming? Almost certainly. Should your kids watch it?
- Under 14: No. Stick to The Wild Robot.
- 15-16: Use your judgment. If they like Reacher, they’ll love this, but be ready for the gore.
- 17+: They’ve probably already seen it twice.
If you’re feeling a little out of the loop on what your kids are watching, take five minutes to fill out our Screenwise survey. We’ll help you figure out if your family's media diet is "War Machine" intense or "Animal Crossing" chill, and give you the tools to bridge the gap.