Hollywood loves war movies, doesn’t it? Over the years, we’ve seen stellar films such as Dunkirk, All Quiet on the Western Front, and Saving Private Ryan. Next up? A24’s Civil War. The movie stars Kirsten Dunst as Lee, a veteran war photographer who documents a battle between Americans and their government. “The whole movie is open to interpretation,” Dunst told Variety. “For me, there were things I just accepted that were unexplained. It allows the audience to fill in their own feelings about what they’re watching.”
Written and directed by Alex Garland (Ex Machina), Civil War is set in the “near future.” In the first trailer, a newscast announces that nineteen states have seceded and the president, played by Nick Offerman, is struggling with uprisings across the country. Meanwhile, Lee and her crew attempt to capture it all. Later this week, viewers can finally see Garland’s latest effort. Keep reading for everything we know about Civil War, including when you can find it on streaming platforms.
What Is Civil War About?
The film follows a group of journalists traveling the war-torn United States—from New York City to Washington, D.C.—to secure an interview with the president. Civil War’s trailers don’t totally explain the origins of the national conflict, but we learn that California and Texas have joined forces and plan to attack the capital. The president claims he’s working to end the chaos, but Lee and her team know propaganda when they see it—and that Americans on both sides of the conflict are willing to do anything to win. Aside from Dunst and Offerman, the cast includes Cailee Spaeny, Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Jesse Plemons.
When Does Civil War Hit Theaters?
Civil War premieres nationwide in theaters and IMAX on Friday, April 12. Select theaters are showing the film on Thursday evening. If you’d rather tune in from home, you’ll have to wait. A24 hasn’t announced a streaming date for Civil War, but the studio has a partnership with Max, so it should eventually land on the streamer. If Max sticks to its typical theatrical-to-streaming schedule, then Civil War will likely land on the platform in the next few months. We’ll update this story when more information becomes available.
