The A24 dystopian war film Civil War, directed by Alex Garland, has found streaming success following its earlier box office triumph. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura and Cailee Spaeny, the film follows three journalists documenting a conflict across a war-torn United States. Civil War grossed $122.6 million worldwide and received generally positive reviews from critics.
Recent data from Reelgood reveals that Civil War was the second most popular movie on streaming in the United States during the week of September 19–25. Available on Max, it was outperformed only by The Penguin (2024). Other titles in the top five include Agatha All Along (2024), High Potential (2024–) and His Three Daughters (2023).
Civil War was Garland’s most ambitious project for A24, with an estimated budget of $50 million, making it the most expensive production in the studio’s history. Despite the high budget, the film was a financial success, breaking A24’s record with $25.7 million during its opening weekend. A24 recouped some of its investment early by selling international distribution rights, adding to the financial success.
Critically, Civil War holds an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, praised for its performances and realistic portrayal of war. However, the audience score is a more modest 70%, reflecting mixed responses from moviegoers. Many viewers found the central conflict’s ambiguity and the film’s focus on journalists, rather than large-scale combat, to be unexpected.
The film stirred some controversy due to its premise, featuring an alliance between politically divergent states Texas and California, now part of the “Western Forces” against a dictatorial president, portrayed by Nick Offerman.
In an interview with Screen Rant, Garland addressed criticisms about the plot, explaining, “There is a fascist president who smashed the Constitution and attacked [American] citizens. If you want to think about why Texas and California might be allied… the answer would be implicit in that.”
Despite the mixed audience reaction, Civil War has clearly found its niche in home viewing, maintaining its popularity on streaming platforms. The film’s success both in theaters and at home may pave the way for A24 to produce more high-budget projects while retaining its commitment to unique and thought-provoking storytelling.
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