Civil War Heads To Max As One Of The Most Thought-Provoking Movies Of The Year

Split into multiple territories, the United States is bursting at its seams in Civil War. An up-and-coming photojournalist named Jessie (Cailee Spaeny) attaches herself to a group of professionals led by Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst), an iconic photographer who has dedicated her life to capturing the most turbulent of times. Learning as she goes, Jessie finds that the world is a much more dangerous place than she initially believed and becomes more and more obsessed with getting the perfect shot.

Joining Cailee Spaeny and Kirsten Dunst in Civil War are other notable names like Wagner Moura (Narcos: Mexico), Jesse Plemons (The Power of the Dog), Stephen McKinley Henderson (Beau is Afraid), Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation), and Sonoya Mizuno (House of the Dragon). Even though Spaeny and Dunst’s characters are technically the film’s leaders, the ensemble is what makes it the unforgettable motion picture that it is.

Audiences flocked to see Alex Garland’s newest movie on the big screen for that all-encompassing experience, with Civil War earning $122.5 million at the global box office against its $50 million production budget. The dystopian thriller was the latest to come from the thought-provoking filmmaker who previously stood behind such titles as Annihilation and Ex Machina. 

If you’re looking for a movie that will start a discussion after the credits roll, then Civil War is your best bet. The film opened up a dialogue within the cinematic community as so much of it echoes the current disagreements and battle lines drawn in the United States. Many critics referenced these themes in their reviews, which were largely positive.

One thing worth noting is that Civil War should be very carefully considered by those suffering from PTSD, specifically from gunfire. The battle scenes are brutal and even the most silent of moments often erupts into a barrage of bullets. 

As the crew of photographers travels across the country, they cross paths with just about every different faction of “Americans”. There’s even a scene in Civil War that depicts a quiet town, with shoppers popping in and out of stores, that appears to be completely unbothered by the explosive events happening around them. Garland does a wonderful job of capturing the various reactions that people would likely have in this day and age should such an event break out.

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To us, Civil War is a huge, glaring warning of the possibilities that could come should an authoritarian ruler find themselves at the top of the U.S. government. The character arcs are not just intriguing but also completely believable and Garland’s genius vision behind the camera makes for a fully immersive experience in which the audience feels like they’re along for the ride into hell. 

Civil War will be available for streaming on Max starting September 13, 2024