Netflix original movie War Machine was released on the platform last week and became quite the surprise hit, debuting at number one on the streaming service’s internal viewership charts, notching nearly 40 million views in just two days. The film follows a US Army Ranger recruit whose final training exercise takes a sci-fi turn when it is interrupted by an invasion from a giant alien machine. The film has been praised for its high-octane action sequences, unique sci-fi concept, and a strong performance from lead actor Alan Ritchson.

If you’ve already checked this movie out and are looking for your next watch, Netflix has plenty of movies that are similar to War Machine that are well worth watching this weekend if you’re looking for something to stream that’s heavy on the action with interesting, futuristic, sci-fi vibes.

Army of the Dead

That’s what you get for waking up in Vegas (during the zombie apocalypse)

If you love the big action of War Machine, then you might enjoy 2021’s Army of the Dead. Directed by Zack Snyder, this film is set during a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, but instead of being focused on survival, a group of mercenaries instead are looking to capitalize on the chaos and venture into the city’s quarantine zone in hopes of pulling off an impossible heist inside an overrun casino.

The film stars Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera and Theo Rossi, and features a surprising amount of comedy in addition to its thrilling action sequences. If you love your action sci-fi with just a Iittle bit of horror and comedy in the mix, this film is a great choice.

Elysium

The Earth and the people who live there are worth fighting for

Starring Matt Damon, Elysium is a sci-fi film that takes place in the far future, after the Earth has been pushed due to its limits thanks to pollution and overpopulation. Though the planet’s citizens live in extreme poverty, the rich and powerful live on an orbiting space station named Elysium where they have everything they could ever want and no longer have to deal with Earth’s problems. However, when one man finds out he only has a few days to live after being exposed to dangerous levels of radiation, he decides to infiltrate this paradise for the 1% so he can use their technology to heal both himself and other citizens of Earth who have been left for too long to suffer on a dying planet.

Though War Machine fans will likely appreciate the film’s many explosive setpieces, this film also offers a strong warning about what could happen if the future is dominated by a wealthy elite who don’t care about poisoning the Earth or the people who live there.

Godzilla Minus One

A stirring monster story that showcases the power of the human spirit

When you think of Godzilla movies, it’s tempting to think of old school black and white movies with cheezy costumes and paper-thin beat-em-up plotlines. However, many of the 21st century Godzilla tackle larger, more interesting themes, while keeping the action front and center, and no film better exemplifies this than Godzilla Minus One. This 2023 Japanese film begins in 1945 right at the end of World War II. As the survivors of the war begin to heal from all the atrocities they have experienced, a different kind of threat is brewing in the ocean, and it will be up to a rag tag group of former servicemen, as well as a boat captain and a scientist, to help deal with the monster that lurks just beneath the ocean

If you haven’t watched this film yet, 2026 is a great time to do so, as the follow-up film, Godzilla Minus Zero, is planned to be released later this year.

Ex Machina

You’ll never look at ChatGPT the same way

Though this doesn’t have as much action as the other titles on this list, 2014’s Ex Machina, directed by Alex Garland, may still be of interest to fans of War Machine for its thoughtful examination of artificial intelligence. Starring Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, and Oscar Isaac, the film follows a programmer who is tasked by a reclusive tech CEO with judging whether a humanoid robot built with advanced AI is genuinely capable of original thought. Though the job seems simple at first, the CEO has several ulterior motives and is testing more than just the limits of his technology.

Though this film was released over a decade ago, its exploration of AI companionship seems especially prescient now, and fans of War Machine may appreciate how it delves into many of the ethical issues surrounding the use of technology.