Netflix has confirmed that War Machine, a 106-minute military science-fiction action film starring Alan Ritchson, is its most-watched title of 2026 so far. The film accumulated 147 million views during the first six months of the year, outpacing The Rip by 11 million views and surpassing the platform's top television series by 44 million views. Directed by Patrick Hughes, the movie positions Ritchson as a soldier training for an elite military programme when an alien mecha crashes nearby, triggering a survival scenario where his squad must use resourcefulness and tactical awareness to outlast an extraterrestrial threat.

The film's appeal rests heavily on its commitment to practical action sequences and authentic location shooting rather than complex character development or narrative depth. Ritchson's imposing physical presence anchors the stripped-down story, which reviewers have compared to survival-action classics like Predator and Aliens. The emphasis on tangible stunts, real rapids, cliff work, and physical environments creates a tactile quality that distinguishes it from dialogue-heavy alternatives, effectively positioning Ritchson as a contemporary action hero in the tradition of 1980s blockbuster stars.