War Dogs

Critics Consensus

War Dogs rises on the strength of Jonah Hill's compelling performance to take a lightly entertaining look at troubling real-world events.

61%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 228

68%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 29,156

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Movie Info

"War Dogs" follows two friends in their early 20s (Hill and Teller) living in Miami Beach during the Iraq War who 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.
  • Rating:
    R (for language throughout, drug use and some sexual references)
  • Genre:
    Comedy, Drama
  • Directed By:
    Todd Phillips
  • Written By:
    Jason Smilovic, Todd Phillips, Stephen Chin
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $43,017,433
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Warner Bros. Pictures

Cast

Jonah Hill
as Efraim Diveroli
Miles Teller
as David Packouz
Ana de Armas
as Iz
Kevin Pollak
as Ralph Slutsky
Bradley Cooper
as Henry Girard
Shaun Toub
as Marlboro
Barry Livingston
JB Blanc
as Bashkim
Brenda Koo
as Vanessa
Eddie Jemison
as Hilldale Home Manager
Jeremy Tardy
as Kip
Andrei Finti
as Yili Pinari
Julian Sergi
as Rosen
Edson Jean
as Drug Dealer
Steve Lantz
as Security Guard
Dan Bilzerian
as Dan Bilzerian
Ali Chen
as OB-GYN
Ashley Rae Spillers
as Rosen's Wife
Patrick St. Esprit
as Captain Philip Santos
Jeff Pierre
as Money Room Soldier
Gabriel Spahiu
as Enver
Benny Figgins
as Casino Dealer
Liliana Cristina Circei
as Bashkim's Wife
Gabriela Alvarez
as Club Girl
Mircea Stoian
as Albanian General
Bogdan Albulescu
as Warehouse Worker
Gregg Weiner
as Massage Client
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Critic Reviews for War Dogs

All Critics (228) | Top Critics (52) | Fresh (138) | Rotten (90)

  • Phillips borrows openly from Martin Scorsese's style for this kind of story, especially Goodfellas, but he's got the story to stand up to the style.

    September 22, 2017 | Full Review…

    M. Faust

    The Public (Buffalo)
    Top Critic

  • By the end we have warmed -- almost -- to the innocent villainy of two con folk serving a greater maladroit maleficence.

    December 27, 2016 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

    Nigel Andrews

    Financial Times
    Top Critic

  • Utterly specious.

    October 10, 2016 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Kevin Maher

    Times (UK)
    Top Critic

  • By bantering with the lads and slapping their wrists at the same, War Dogs is left with countless rounds of illicit ammo and no clear satirical target.

    August 26, 2016 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Guy Lodge

    London Evening Standard
    Top Critic

  • Hard to imagine a less imaginative rendering of this story.

    August 26, 2016 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    David Jenkins

    Little White Lies
    Top Critic

  • There is certainly comic value in the way the two weed-smoking Miami-based friends somehow turn themselves briefly into "players" in the international arms business. Phillips tells their story with plenty of gonzo-style zest.

    August 25, 2016 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Geoffrey Macnab

    Independent (UK)
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (228)

Audience Reviews for War Dogs

  • Jul 16, 2017
    Wolf of Wall Street meets Blow, but not as good as either
    Ed K Super Reviewer
  • Jan 17, 2017
    Based on a true story, War Dogs is a fascinating crime drama about war profiteering. The film follows two former childhood friends who partner up to run an arms company that supplies the U.S. military, eventually conning their way into a multimillion dollar Afghanistan contract. Miles Teller and Jonah Hill are especially good and Bradley Cooper delivers an impressive supporting performance as a mysterious foreign arms dealer. Additionally, the writing is really strong and does an impressive job at breaking down and explaining the arms industry. And, the soundtrack brings a lot of energy and excitement to the film, and helps to set the right tone. A smart and entertaining film, War Dogs explores how avarice corrupts and destroys lives.
    Dann M Super Reviewer
  • Jan 13, 2017
    I was surprised that this film came from the dude that did The Hangover. It was an interesting story although I don't think it was as good as Nicholas Cage's arms dealer film Lord of War. The relationship between Teller and Hill really drove the story. The in and out of the film performance of Bradley Cooper was also good. Give this one a go if you have some time on the weekend.
    Patrick W Super Reviewer
  • Jan 06, 2017
    Sharing immense similarity to the 2005 film Lord of War, the formula has indeed been done before... but not in this manner. The movie is about guns, illegal arms deals, corrupt politicians, but ultimately a corrupt sense of what the American dream really is. Fortunately, this story is presented to us in a ridiculously entertaining fashion, mainly thanks to the outstanding performances of Jonah Hill and Miles Teller. Not to mention Bradley Cooper as a stone cold gangster. It's funny, and pretty interesting; but it doesn't offer too much for the thinking man. War Dogs is like candy; you're not going to get much out of it, but it's a damn fun movie to watch. I can still hear Jonah Hill's downright stupidly funny laugh echoing in my head.
    Kevin M Super Reviewer
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