A  movie branded the ‘best action film of 2026’ has rocketed up the Netflix charts – with fans already demanding a sequel.

War Machine follows the final recruits of a punishing special ops bootcamp, who encounter a dangerous force beyond this world.

Reacher star Alan Ritchson portrays the lead character, Staff Sergeant 81, with other cast members including Dennis Quaid, Stephan James and Esai Morales.

Meanwhile, Patrick Hughes directed, co-wrote and co-produced the film, which dropped on Netflix on March 6.

Staff Sergeant 81 is an Afghanistan veteran battling PTSD, who struggles to form bonds with his fellow candidates.

Despite having extensive experience, he also refuses to take on a team leader position on the course.

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New film War Machine has rocketed up the Netflix charts - with many viewers left seriously impressed
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New film War Machine has rocketed up the Netflix charts – with many viewers left seriously impressed

Reacher star Alan Ritchson (pictured) plays main character Staff Sergeant 81, an Afghanistan veteran battling PTSD
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Reacher star Alan Ritchson (pictured) plays main character Staff Sergeant 81, an Afghanistan veteran battling PTSD

In the midst of their final exercise, the team are shocked by a mysterious blast in the sky, which takes out communications.

They discover an apparent classified aircraft in the creek and detonate it with explosives – before it transforms into a walking machine and begins killing off the team.

War Machine has been doing well on Rotten Tomatoes, where it currently holds a a 70% rating so far from professional reviewers.

As well as this, the film also has a 75% score from audiences on the aggregator site.

One viewer wrote: ‘I loved it. Had to pause it for a minute to get myself together.’

Another commented: ‘Legitimately entertaining, it’s not an Oscar contender but a great popcorn movie.

‘Basically Reacher fights space robot, but well shot and a good time.’

A third remarked: ‘‘Not the biggest fan of war  movies but this kept me watching and wanting more action and hits of wit.

‘I hope there is sequel because I felt hanging and hoping for more.’

The film's premise follows the final recruits of a punishing special ops bootcamp, who encounter a dangerous force beyond this world
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The film’s premise follows the final recruits of a punishing special ops bootcamp, who encounter a dangerous force beyond this world

In addition, other viewers highlighted War Machine as the best action movie of 2026 so far.

Although some audience members weren’t as impressed, with one describing the film as ‘brainless eye candy and immediately forgettable’.

It comes as the latest series of one of Netflix’s hit spy thrillers has rocketed up the charts thanks to its perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, with fans hailing it the ‘best yet’.

The Night Agent – created by Shawn Ryan (The Shield) and adapted by the book of the same name by Matthew Quirk – debuted in March 2023.

The show follows a lowly FBI agent named Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso), who works as a Night Action telephone operator at the White House, manning a phone that is never supposed to ring… unless in dire circumstances.

The first season kicked off with that phone actually ringing – but an unexpected caller is on the other end, a civilian in danger named Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan).

The show was an immediate hit with Netflix viewers, logging a whopping 168.71 million viewing hours in its first week, and securing a Season 2 renewal.

There was little surprise then that after the second series saw millions of viewers tune in within hours, that the show is back with ten more episodes.

Season three looks to be following the trend, with the show already soaring to number three in Netflix’s coveted Top 10 chart in the days after it was released.

Taking to the reviews section of Rotten Tomatoes, one viewer penned, according to Metro: ‘Best season yet. Always loved this show. Great entertainment.’

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‘Five episodes through and thoroughly enjoying it. It really tightens up after episode 2 and finds it stride and I’m loving some of the new dynamics with the new night agents,’ a second chimed in.

While a third wrote on X, formerly Twitter: ‘I should be sleep but the new season of The Night Agent is just so good.’