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Civil War

Civil War

Welcome to the frontline.

2024109 minRMidcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
Director
Alex Garland
Starring
Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson

In the near future, a group of war journalists attempt to survive while reporting the truth as the United States stands on the brink of civil war.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Civil War?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Civil War to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Civil War?

Civil War earns 12 badges, led by Standout soundtrack and Atmospheric.

Show 4 more
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Content

Reception

Is Civil War worth watching?

Civil War's Midcredits score is the 78th percentile of all films, from 1.5M ratings across 6 sources. 66% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

78th percentile

Better received than 78% of films

88th percentile among Action79th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)79th
Approval (how many liked it)74th

70 /100

79th percentile of all films

89th percentile among Action78th percentile among 2020s

Critics 75 · Audience 69

Critics liked it more than audiences did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.8 — solid but not unanimous.

66% liked it

74th percentile of all films

83rd percentile among Action74th percentile among 2020s
66% rated it 7–1034% rated it 1–6

Critics 80% · Audience 69%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 10 wins / 60 noms overall

95th percentile

1.5M ratings across platforms

90th percentile among Action96th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 26% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$50M
Opening weekend$26M
Domestic gross$69M
Worldwide gross$127M

Returned 2.5× its budget — 87th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A technically accomplished film that prioritizes atmosphere and journalistic perspective over political exposition, leaving audiences split on whether that approach is profound or hollow.

Fans praised

  • Immersive sound design and visceral action
  • Kirsten Dunst's haunted, restrained performance
  • Thought-provoking meditation on war journalism and spectacle

Detractors panned

  • Refuses to explain the war's causes or sides
  • Shallow character writing and predictable arcs
  • Slow, meandering road-trip pacing with little payoff until the finale

What stands out

Sound and music87

Immersive, explosive sound design; soundtrack sets mood effectively

Atmosphere83

Haunting, immersive world-building; familiar settings rendered unsettling

Cinematography82

Striking visuals, especially forest fire and DC battle; some note technical flaws

Effects and spectacle82

Final battle sequence widely praised as thrilling and realistic

Acting78

Dunst's restrained portrayal lauded; supporting cast solid but some critics cite uneven character work

Plot and storyDivisive48

Simple A-to-B road-trip structure; detractors call it aimless and predictable

CharactersDivisive45

Widely criticized as underdeveloped, archetypal, and lacking depth

PacingDivisive44

Often called slow and meandering until the intense final act

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 11 points higher than women.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 23 points higher than users.

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 19 points higher than US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Under-30s vs over-30s 6 points apart

Watch experience

What is Civil War like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Dark and unsettling: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready to pay close attention and feel heavy feelings, and you want something dark that stays with you.

It is intense and leaves you haunted. Skip it when you want an easy night or you can only half-watch.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Your full attention and room for heavy feelings.

What it feels like

Dark and unsettling.

The answer rests on this: Moods
DreadTenseMelancholic
Heaviest: throughout
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Bleak · 8% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film presents the horrors of war with a detached, observational eye, never undercutting its own gravity.
The rideThe dystopian war setting suggests sustained tension and dread, with periods of melancholy and intense action throughout the journey.
StructureThe story follows a linear journey from New York to Washington D.C., with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Haunted.

The answer rests on this: Haunting · 14% of filmsThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe film lingers long after, both for its visceral depiction of war and its unflinching look at the cost of bearing witness.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).QuestMission
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% (this title) · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Mission: Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).

10% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeThe film's spine is a cross-country road trip by war journalists to reach Washington D.C. before the president falls.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfTruthIdeas
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% (this title) · War 1% · Violence 4% (this title) · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5% (this title): Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% (this title) · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Ideas

Truth · 4% of filmsSurvivalViolence · 4% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on journalists pursuing the truth amidst a violent civil conflict, where survival and the cost of bearing witness become central concerns.
StanceThe film questions the pursuit of truth in a collapsing society, following an ensemble of journalists navigating moral and physical dangers.

The world

Near futureIn transitUrbanRuralStylized realism
Orchestral modernElectronicSupportive music · original score · Ben Salisbury, Geoff Barrow
Settinga fractured United States during a civil war, with journalists traveling cross-country
MusicScore likely combines tension-building orchestral elements with electronic textures to heighten the dystopian mood.

Content guide

Is Civil War okay for kids?

R

Civil War is rated R: “Rated R for strong violent content, bloody/disturbing images, and language throughout” (MPAA). As of September 28, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at severe (92/100), sexual content at minimal (10/100), language at severe (83/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (43/100) and frightening material at severe (90/100). Overall it is heavier than 88% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 42 other countries
  • UK15
  • Canada14A
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany16
  • France12
  • Ireland15A
  • New ZealandR16
  • JapanPG12
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil18
  • Argentina+16
  • Belgium16
  • Czechia15+
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK-16
  • GreeceK18
  • Hong KongIIB
  • Hungary18
  • ID17+
  • IndiaU/A 16+
  • Israel16
  • Italy6+
  • LTN-16
  • MexicoC
  • MOC
  • Netherlands16
  • Norway15
  • PhilippinesR-16
  • PortugalM/14
  • PRR
  • RO18
  • Russia18+
  • SingaporeNC16
  • SK15
  • Spain18
  • Sweden15
  • Switzerland16
  • Taiwan6+
  • TH15
  • Türkiye16+
  • UA18+
  • VIR
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 93% of all filmsHeavier than 88% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 90%
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 4%
Profanity
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 80%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 55%
Frightening / Intense
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 94%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is violence, frightening material, and language. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Civil War have?

MovieCove's classifier found 7 depicted content warnings in Civil War: Gore or body horror (severe), Gun violence (severe), Torture (severe), War atrocities (severe), Suicide (mild), plus 2 withheld here because they would spoil the plot. Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

SevereGore or body horrorGun violenceTortureWar atrocities
MildSuicide

Cast and crew

Who is in Civil War?

Cast

2 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Kirsten Dunst
as Lee
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Wagner Moura
as Joel
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Cailee Spaeny
as Jessie
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.
Stephen McKinley Henderson
as Sammy
Nelson Lee
as Tony
Best so far: Their highest-reaching film role to date — the title is too recent to say more.
Nick Offerman
as President
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Jefferson White
as Dave
Evan Lai
as Bohai
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Vince Pisani
as Concierge
Best so far: Their highest-reaching film role to date — the title is too recent to say more.
Justin James Boykin
as American Soldier (Middle East)
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Civil War?

Movies like Civil War include Dredd (2012), The Rover (2014) and Under Fire (1983). Of the 12 closest matches, most are films set in the near future, and several are stories about soldiers.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

6 of these 12 share its world: dystopian. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Civil War?

1.1K other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: political thriller. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.