After three seasons and 24 episodes of Prime Video’s mega-popular action series Reacher, it’s safe to say that Alan Ritchson is becoming a household name. Prime Video renewed the hit vigilante thriller series for a fourth season in May 2026. That gives fans of Ritchson and the Lee Child novels on which the show is based ample time to catch up with the action star’s new Netflix action thriller. It was tailor-made for Ritchson’s gritty, tough-guy persona.
While Reacher follows the two successful Tom Cruise movies, Jack Reacher and Never Go Back, Ritchson’s military sci-fi action movie War Machine shouldn’t be confused with the 2017 Brad Pitt Netflix movie of the same name. Built around Ritchson’s raw might and charismatic charms, War Machine is 107 minutes of relentless, pure adrenaline to keep Reacher fans busy until the next season arrives sometime later in 2026.
‘War Machine’ is Perfectly Molded to Alan Ritchson’s Jack Reacher Persona
Directed and co-written by Patrick Hughes (Red Hill), War Machine was released globally on Netflix on March 6, 2026, and instantly topped the viewership charts. Built on a simple premise that is elevated by Ritchson’s magnetism and powerful presence, the story centers on 81 (Ritchson), a staff sergeant reeling from a fatal ambush in Afghanistan in which a family member was killed. 81 is tasked with leading an 8-week training regimen and a simulated mission to rescue a pilot in a forest, and the plan goes horribly awry when a supernatural scourge appears out of thin air.
Despite being mildly criticized for its overly simplistic plot, War Machine is the perfect star-making vehicle for Ritchson; it embraces and advances his Jack Reacher persona. The rough, gruff, not-so-friendly soldier doesn’t get along with his trainees, has a lone-wolf streak, and often ignores the law to get the job done. Once the paranormal threat waylays more than half of 81’s platoon, the action is essentially reduced to a one-man-army formula that Ritchson has found success with in Reacher.
Less interested in rich character depth and more in indefatigable action spectacle, War Machine is a movie that every Reacher fan needs to watch at least once. The film holds a slightly above-average 68% Rotten Tomatoes score, a 64% Audience Score, and a 6.3 IMDb rating. However, War Machine has an undeniably fun, wildly entertaining throwback quality reminiscent of the mindless ’80s action flicks Schwarzenegger made in his heyday, such as Commando and Predator.
Alan Ritchson Has Expressed Interest in Making a ‘War Machine’ Sequel
As Ritchson prepares to film Season 4 of Reacher for a 2026 release, the next chapter will adapt Gone Tomorrow, the 13th novel in Lee Child’s novel series. The story commences in New York, where Reacher uses his keen military skills to identify a female suicide bomber on a subway. Those drawn to how Reacher utilizes his military expertise are in for a real treat with War Machine.
Ritchson has also expressed interest in making a sequel. The two are already attached to the untitled Navy SEAL biopic about Mike Thornton and could perhaps form another notable actor-director duo. Even though the movie feels like a standalone film, Ritchson and Hughes recently told ScreenRant that they view War Machine as a potential movie franchise. When asked about the subject and possible storylines, Ritchson beamed:
“Tons. Let me say it for him (Hughes), tons. War Machines is going to be sick. The whole thing. We got a whole thing.”
Beyond referring to the sequel as War Machines, Hughes jumped in and added:
“No. No. When I sat down and wrote War Machine, I was like, this is a fully formed standalone story, and heaven forbid, touch wood, if I ever got the opportunity to take it further, I know exactly where it’s going, and I’ve sketched it out.”
In addition to mapping out War Machines, Hughes touched on his affinity for Ritchson’s character, adding, “I fell in love with the character of 81, and the universe of sort of everything he’s going through. So look, if that call comes in, then yes, I’m ready to pull the trigger.”
Reacher fans: it’s time to pull the trigger on War Machine on Netflix.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
