Netflix's biggest original movie of the year scores major sequel news

Over the years, Netflix has released its fair share of original movies that have broken into mainstream pop culture and become just as popular as any movie released in theaters. From Oscar winners to viewership hits, there have been countless Netflix movies we have loved, and even this year, the streamer has released a number of original films that have left their mark.

Back in March, Netflix released the military action-thriller War Machine, which stars Reacher actor Alan Ritchson. The film isn't to be confused with the 2017 Netflix original movie of the same name starring Brad Pitt, and you certainly wouldn't confused the movies given one has become much more successful than the other. In fact, there's exciting sequel news about the 2026 blockbuster.

War Machine sequel in the works at Netflix

In June 2026, a few months removed from the movie's release, Netflix announced that a War Machine sequel was officially in the works. Ritchson will likely reprise his role as 81 in the forthcoming follow-up, and director Patrick Hughes has been confirmed to return to helm the film and co-write the script with Jame Beaufort. The elements are already in place to deliver another great movie.

Netflix's decision to develop a sequel to War Machine doesn't come as much of a surprise. The sequel announcement came with the reveal that the movie made its debut on the Top 10 Most Popular English-Language Netflix Original Movies of All Time ranking in the No. 10 position. Within the movie's first 91 days on the platform, it has logged 139 million views and 252.6 million hours viewed.

Even without factoring in its placement on the all-time most popular movie ranking, War Machine was already a contender for a sequel based on its performance on streamer. Upon its premiere, the action flick was a constant fixture in the daily Top 10, and despite its middling reception from critics, the movie was well-liked by the viewers who have bolstered its ratings all the way to the all-time Top 10.

As of the sequel's announcement, there haven't been any other details spilled by Netflix, including what to expect from the film's plot. The ending of War Machine left the door open for 81's story to continue as he continues to step into a leadership role in the fight against machines, but no official story details have been shared for the new movie just yet.

In addition, it's likely far too early in the development process for talk of when production could begin on War Machine 2, if that's what the film's title will be. Ritchson continues to lead Reacher for Prime Video, which will return for seasons 4 and 5, and he will host Netflix's upcoming survival competition series. Being so, we shouldn't expect the sequel to arrive much before 2028, but that's just a prediction.

Stay tuned for more War Machine sequel news and updates!

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