War Dogs

Name: War Dogs
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Crime, War
Released: August 19, 2016
Duration: 114 min
Rating: 57
Cast: Jonah Hill, Miles Teller

2016

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 41 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 369 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	Your Score
7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 369 Ratings

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War Dogs

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. | Release Date: August 19, 2016 | R

Starring: Jonah Hill, Miles Teller

Summary: Two friends in their early 20s (Jonah Hill and Miles Teller) living in Miami Beach during the Iraq War exploit a little-known government initiative that allows small businesses to bid on U.S. Military contracts. Starting small, they begin raking in big money and are living the high life. But the pair gets in over their heads when they landTwo friends in their early 20s (Jonah Hill and Miles Teller) living in Miami Beach during the Iraq War exploit a little-known government initiative that allows small businesses to bid on U.S. Military contracts. Starting small, they begin raking in big money and are living the high life. But the pair gets in over their heads when they land a 300 million dollar deal to arm the Afghan Military—a deal that puts them in business with some very shady people, not the least of which turns out to be the U.S. Government.… Expand

Director: Todd Phillips

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Crime, War

Rating: R

Runtime: 114 min

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Critic Reviews

Owen Gleiberman

Aug 16, 2016

War Dogs marks a key turning point for Phillips. After all these years of yocks, it’s his first true grown-up movie, and it’s a nimble, gripping, and terrific one, with plenty of laughs, only now they’re rooted in the reality of fear, and in behavior that’s authentically scurrilous. Read full review

Calvin Wilson

Aug 18, 2016

Working from a screenplay that he co-wrote with Stephen Chin and Jason Smilovic, Phillips delivers a film that raises provocative questions about the economic imperatives of war while masquerading as a buddy comedy. Read full review

Matt Singer

Aug 16, 2016

Superficially, the movie looks a lot like past Phillips comedies about men behaving badly, with dirty jokes and wacky hijinks galore. But War Dogs is more critical of its protagonists’ behavior, and there’s plenty of sad commentary about the state of modern America. Read full review

Brian Truitt

Aug 17, 2016

The film is loaded with a gripping plot and enjoyably sketchy characters but hobbled by an uneven tone that ricochets between zany comedy and serious crime thriller. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Aug 19, 2016

War Dogs ends up being no better than its protagonists at delivering the goods. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Matt Zoller Seitz

Aug 17, 2016

War Dogs is a film about horrible people that refuses to own the horribleness. Read full review

Randall Colburn

Aug 16, 2016

It’s vacuous, ugly, unfunny, and, somehow, not a satire. It might be the worst movie of the year. Read full review

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User Reviews

CorruptAU

Aug 23, 2016

Screw those who are giving this negative ratings - if you aren't a dried up, soulless pessimist this movie has something to offer you.

Lets start with what we were all nervous for, Jonah Hill - my god, does he nail this role. Humor, intelligence, and cunning all rolled into one. HeScrew those who are giving this negative ratings - if you aren't a dried up, soulless pessimist this movie has something to offer you.

Lets start with what we were all nervous for, Jonah Hill - my god, does he nail this role. Humor, intelligence, and cunning all rolled into one. He drives this movie and gives every viewer something different. I took my partner, and she also enjoyed the movie, especially his performance.

This is a rags to riches 'true story' with some humor intertwined and Jonah Hills signature 'laugh' saw me laughing aloud multiple times.

I don't want to post spoilers, and I don't want to ruin your experience - hell that is what movies are for, watching and making your own informed decision. Just don't let some of these bad reviews deter you.… Expand

26 of 30 users found this helpful264

Rind

Apr 22, 2021

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1 of 4 users found this helpful13

yezo

Sep 4, 2016

I enjoy the movie very much. It is funny. The plot is really interesting. The filming style with narrator remind of fight club.
I would recommend this movie.
And I don't know and don't care why the 'professional' reviewers don't like it.

6 of 8 users found this helpful62

wevertonaguiiar

Dec 4, 2019

Uma história contada com humor e tensão. Um elenco minimamente bom que consegue entregar o que lhe é pedido e uma direção operante; esse filme definitivamente não é incrível, mas no mínimo bom.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

DawdlingPoet

Nov 27, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I know this is categorised as a comedy film but I wouldn't say its really a comedy per se. There are definitely some cringey moments and knowing its based on a true story made it more interesting, as its hard to believe that such a turn of events would really happen. The subject/thematic material is more than a little grim, so if it has any kind of comedy element to it then I'd say its quite dark comedy but its pretty watchable with some fast paced action and fight based scenes, so that made it a reasonable film to me. The characters aren't exactly greatly likeable - one of the two main characters appears to be more childish and frivolous than the other, although both of them are clearly naive. I found Jonah Hills laugh annoying but that is maybe a bit too pedantic(?). I dont know, its a bit of a hyper film in a way but its alright. I don't think I can say much more than that. Oh and if you don't like strong swearing and sex references then this won't be for you but there isn't much in the way of strong bloody violence.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

KaptenVideo

Oct 2, 2017

Yet another spin of the greed is good / rags-to-riches American success story formula pioneered by Oliver Stone’s 1987 classic „Wall Street“, still heavily used by all the others.
This is a true story about 20-something guys (Jonah Hill, Miles Teller) exploiting a little-known governmentYet another spin of the greed is good / rags-to-riches American success story formula pioneered by Oliver Stone’s 1987 classic „Wall Street“, still heavily used by all the others.
This is a true story about 20-something guys (Jonah Hill, Miles Teller) exploiting a little-known government initiative that allows small businesses to bid on U.S. Military contracts during the Iraq War. They begin raking in big money but soon get in over their heads. Also starring, Bradley Cooper, Ana de Armas, Kevin Pollak.
This type of movies usually depend heavily on the coolness of the leading actors, and Hill + Teller surely is an exciting combo. Hill’s work is especially noteworthy, giving the staple comedy actor a chance to create an unusually multifaceted character, a sociopathic narcissistic dude.
„War Dogs“ also has the typical weakness of this type of movie: underdeveloped final act. After taking their sweet time showing all about the humble beginning and rise to fame and fortune, the later events are shown in a hurry. Stuff happens because it has to happen, not because the story has evolved to this point naturally.
Director Todd Phillips is known for moderately funny but not especially inventive mainstream comedies („Road Trip“, „Old School“, 2004’s „Starsky and Hutch“, „School for Scoundrels“, „The Hangover“ trilogy, „Due Date“). This is his first break from the mold, and surely a refreshing step in new direction.
Like some of the best screen stories, "War Dogs" is not tied to a particular genre such as comedy or action or drama. It has a bit of everything which has always been one of the most attractive aspects of this type of rags to riches movies.
By the way, the poster design is a parody of the iconic poster for mafia classic „Scarface“, which is referenced throughout the film; also, Hill was born in 1983 when „Scarface“ was released. I don’t know if it’s really important in some way.
It's a solid way to spend nearly two hours, but there's a great number of movies of the same type already. Don't expect to remember it in the morning.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

AlanGuien

Dec 7, 2021

The babies who played Ella (Natalia Mantilla and Valentina Mantilla) were poorly raised and annoying in this movie. If you want to see a movie with unnecessarily annoying characters, then go on ahead. This isn’t even the best movie by a long shot. There are PLENTY other movies out there.The babies who played Ella (Natalia Mantilla and Valentina Mantilla) were poorly raised and annoying in this movie. If you want to see a movie with unnecessarily annoying characters, then go on ahead. This isn’t even the best movie by a long shot. There are PLENTY other movies out there. I’ve HAD IT with annoying BABY GIRLS.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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87	#87 Most Discussed Movie of 2016
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