--- title: "War Dogs" year: 2016 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/war-dogs" fi1m_score: 55 critics_score: 57 critics_reviews: 23 published: "2026-09-20T09:46:35.308136+00:00" updated: "2026-09-20T09:47:09.505405+00:00" region: "US" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # War Dogs (2016) Directed by Todd Phillips · 1h 54m · MPA R · Comedy, Crime, Drama **Fi1m score: 55** · Critics 57 from 23 reviews *In a sentence:* Two stoners sell the Pentagon bullets and the film cannot decide whether to wince or high-five > Todd Phillips’s true story of two Miami twentysomethings who sold bullets to the Pentagon has one first-rate performance, Jonah Hill’s, and a director who has watched *The Wolf of Wall Street* closely and learned the wrong things from it. ## Synopsis Miami Beach, 2005. David Packouz (Miles Teller) gives massages to rich men, fails to sell bedsheets to nursing homes, and has a girlfriend, Iz (Ana de Armas), who is pregnant and a war on the television he wants nothing to do with. At a funeral he runs into Efraim Diveroli (Jonah Hill), a friend from school back from Los Angeles with a gold chain and a company, AEY, that bids on the small Pentagon arms contracts the big defence firms ignore. David joins him. A dry cleaner, Ralph Slutzky (Kevin Pollak), puts up the money. Their first big order, Beretta pistols for the Iraqi police, gets stuck behind an embargo in Italy, so the two of them fly to Jordan to drive the guns to Baghdad themselves. ## Review Todd Phillips, who made the three *Hangover* films, has found a true story that looks like one of his comedies and is not. In 2005 two men barely out of their teens, David Packouz (Miles Teller) and Efraim Diveroli (Jonah Hill), started bidding on small Pentagon arms contracts from Miami Beach and ended up with a deal to arm the Afghan National Army. *War Dogs* has the rise, mostly on the strength of Hill, and fumbles the fall, because Phillips cannot decide whether he finds these two appalling or wonderful and settles for finding them funny. The set-up is the best of it. Teller’s David is massaging rich men and failing to sell bedsheets to nursing homes when Efraim, a friend from school, turns up at a funeral wearing a gold chain and plainly making more money than anyone there. His company, AEY, bids on the government’s own website for the crumbs the big defence firms will not stoop to, and Hill explains it with the patience of a man who has enjoyed every telling. The first Iraq run, a truck of pistols driven from Jordan to Baghdad because an embargo stopped them flying, is a proper set piece, and we were gripped until a song came up under the arrival and we realised the film wanted a cheer. Hill is the reason to see it. He has given Efraim a soft, high, wheezing laugh that arrives a beat late, a paunch he carries like a badge, and a [*Scarface*](https://film.one/film/scarface) poster he quotes as if it were advice. He lets us see the arithmetic behind the eyes for a fraction of a second before the smile covers it. We laughed at that laugh every time, and by the third time we had stopped liking ourselves for it, which is the closest the film comes to the effect it is after. Teller, as narrator and conscience, is stuck being reasonable while the other man does the acting. The film never makes David’s own greed interesting, and a rise and fall needs two people falling. Lawrence Sher shoots Miami in hard, bleached sunlight and hotel-lobby gold, and Iraq and Albania in a dustier version of the same, so the war looks like a hotter Miami. Bill Brzeski’s AEY office grows from a strip-mall room with a cardboard box for a desk to a suite with glass walls and a gun safe. Cliff Martinez’s electronic score is cool and low and mostly unused, because Phillips would rather drop a song, and the songs are the ones every film about young men and money has already used. Jeff Groth cuts to them in montages of counting cash and packing crates, and the montages are where the film goes to avoid writing a scene. What is missing is a point of view. The chapter cards quote the characters’ own lines back at us, the voiceover tells us that war is an economy, and the camera cannot stop admiring the pool parties. Phillips has studied [*The Wolf of Wall Street*](https://film.one/film/the-wolf-of-wall-street) (2013), which let its hero seduce us and then made us pay for it; here nobody pays for anything except in the plot. The Albania stretch treats a country as a punchline about bad hotels. Bradley Cooper turns up in dark glasses as Henry Girard, an arms dealer on a watch list, and gives the film its only real menace. Ana de Armas, as Iz, is asked to be pregnant, disappointed and forgiving in that order, and does all three with more grace than the writing earns. The second half takes the turn the true story took, and we will not describe it, except to say that it turns the film into a thriller about a phone call. Against Phillips’s own record it is a step forward: his first film to notice that the boys’ weekend has consequences. Against Andrew Niccol’s *Lord of War* (2005), which was angrier and clumsier and knew exactly what it thought of its arms dealer, it looks undecided. Watch it for Hill, for the first hour and for the Jordan road. It runs 114 minutes and carries a 15, and at home it plays as what it is: a decent Saturday-night crime comedy that read one good magazine article and thought it had read a book. *Fi1m score 55, published 20 September 2026.* ## What the critics say The critics split almost evenly on War Dogs, and the one thing nearly all of them agree on is Jonah Hill. Even the reviews that dismiss the film single out his turn as the louder, more dangerous of the two arms dealers, and Miles Teller gets steady if quieter credit alongside him. The admirers, mostly American trade titles, call it Todd Phillips’s first serious film for adults: a brisk, darkly funny rise-and-fall with real detail on how defence procurement worked in the mid-2000s. The detractors think it borrows the shape of The Wolf of Wall Street without the satire. The Guardian and The Telegraph both find it too fond of its own bros to say anything about them; The Times calls it The Hangover with guns. Lazy song choices come up repeatedly. The spread is wide, from a five-star Radio Times review to The Wrap finding it pointless, and the British broadsheets are noticeably colder than the American press. ### Reviews we read (23) - **Radio Times**, Stella Papamichael (5/5): The critic calls it a cracking comedy thriller with never a dull moment, highlighting the kinetic camerawork, wry voiceover, and skillful balance of humour, tension and moral tale elements. They single out Jonah Hill's humane, boyish portrayal of the egocentric lead for particular praise. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/war-dogs-review-theres-never-a-dull-moment/) - **Variety** (85/100, inferred): Director Todd Phillips has made his first terrific movie for grown-ups in this true-life tale of hip-geek arms dealers. The review singles out the nimble, gripping storytelling rooted in reality and fear, with authentic laughs and strong performances from the leads playing it straight. [Read](https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/war-dogs-review-jonah-hill-miles-teller-1201838470/) - **Empire**, John Nugent (75/100, inferred): The critic finds it a largely serious film about arms dealing with darkly funny moments, buoyed by strong lead performances from Miles Teller and Jonah Hill and a compelling real-life story. It nearly achieves Scorsese-like rise-and-fall energy but falls short on visual ambition and fully confronting the human cost. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/war-dogs-review/) - **The New York Times**, Neil Genzlinger (Critic's Pick): The film delivers an entertaining tale of two young men improbably becoming arms suppliers, mining the absurdity of the true story more than any outrage. The critic singles out the enjoyable insane ride, aided by strong supporting turns from Ana de Armas and Bradley Cooper. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/19/movies/war-dogs-review-jonah-hill-miles-teller.html) - **IndieWire**, David Ehrlich (C+): The critic finds Jonah Hill on target but says the gunrunner comedy overall shoots blanks, a watered-down mix of other films that delivers swagger without substance. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/war-dogs-review-jonah-hill-miles-teller-todd-phillips-1201717253/) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Todd McCarthy (60/100, inferred): The critic calls it a moderately amusing based-on-reality account of two young opportunists bumbling into arms dealing. Hill and Teller deliver engaging yet repellent energy in their roles as the scumbag leads. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/miles-teller-jonah-hill-war-920006/) - **Time Out**, Dave Calhoun (3/5): The critic praises Jonah Hill's standout performance as the film's biggest asset but notes that it fails to dig deeply into the characters or match the nuance of its influences like The Wolf of Wall Street. It is seen as fitfully entertaining escapism rather than a more substantial yarn. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/war-dogs) - **Evening Standard**, Guy Lodge (40/100, inferred): The critic notes the film successfully portrays its characters as douchebags but faults its semi-comic approach for enjoying their antics too much without sufficient satire or moral clarity. It lacks the conviction and wit of its Scorsese model, The Wolf of Wall Street, leaving it without a clear target. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/war-dogs-film-review-lock-stock-and-two-stonking-dudebros-a3330266.html) - **Little White Lies**, David Jenkins (3/2/2): The critic finds Todd Phillips' take on the true story of young arms dealers underwhelming and lacking in imagination, with tired execution and poor musical choices. They single out the film's superficial handling of themes and stereotypical portrayals of foreign countries for complaint. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/war-dogs) - **Los Angeles Times**, Justin Chang (40/100, inferred): The film is a slipshod comic thriller that tames its wild true story into a familiar buddy comedy without real outrage or insight. Chang singles out the lazy filmmaking, obvious music cues, and mild titters at boys-being-boys antics under deadly circumstances. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-war-dogs-review-20160815-snap-story.html) - **Slant Magazine**, Eric Henderson (40/100, inferred): The critic sees the film as unrepentantly cynical about warmongering yet earnest about the American dream, mimicking The Wolf of Wall Street without its duality and playing like a comedy without punchlines. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/war-dogs/) - **The Telegraph**, Robbie Collin (2/5): The film tries to be a Goodfellas-style fleece procedural about real-life arms dealers but lacks moral shading and satirical bite, with the satire hitting with powder-puff force. It feels like the director thinks he has found his signature crime epic but the result is a misfire. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/08/25/war-dogs-review-a-goodfellas-for-bros-misfire/) - **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (35/100, inferred): The film is a strangely tiresome bro adventure that keeps reminding viewers how bad arms dealing is while making the dealers seem funny and cool. It draws on generic elements from The Hangover and The Wolf of Wall Street without delivering much comedy or genuine satire. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/aug/25/war-dogs-review-jonah-hill-miles-teller-todd-phillips-arms-dealers) - **The New Yorker**, Richard Brody (30/100, inferred): The movie exemplifies bad filmmaking that is flat and schematic despite its practical details on military procurement and its satirical take on war profiteering. Brody singles out the lack of depth in the script and direction, comparing it unfavorably in execution to its premise. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/the-exemplary-badness-of-war-dogs-and-hell-or-high-water) - **The Times** (25/100, inferred): This specious tale of arms dealers is a misogynistic misfire that offers musical montages and crass conviction in the allure of men in nightclubs instead of moral or political context. It is essentially The Hangover with guns and has no interest in the ethics of its subject. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/war-dogs-hxtb8ff5j) - **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (A-): The film is a cutting, irreverent crime story that showcases strong performances from Jonah Hill and Miles Teller and marks impressive growth for director Todd Phillips. It drags somewhat in the third act with predictable turns. [Read](https://collider.com/war-dogs-review/) - **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (85/100, inferred): The critic praises it as a smart, intelligent and darkly funny movie, a big leap for Phillips, highlighting the buddy dynamic between Hill and Teller and fresh insights into the arms business. They single out the performances of Hill and Teller for praise. [Read](https://deadline.com/2016/08/war-dogs-review-jonah-hill-miles-teller-bradley-cooper-todd-phillips-1201806083/) - **Eye for Film**, Jane Fae (4/5): A solid drama offering insight into US defence procurement in the mid-2000s rather than a hilarious romp. It effectively blends elements of Lord of War and The Big Short with accurate-seeming details on the arms trade. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/war-dogs-2016-film-review-by-jane-fae) - **The Playlist**, Kevin Jagernauth (B): War Dogs is an entertaining popcorn ride about ambitious young men in the grey-area arms trade, reminiscent of The Wolf of Wall Street but with less moral bite. Hill and Teller shine in their hustling dynamic, though the third act loses energy. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/war-dogs-starring-jonah-hill-miles-teller-like-wolf-wall-street-guns-review-20160816/) - **Den of Geek**, Ryan Lambie (4 out of 5): The critic praises Jonah Hill's playfully disturbing performance as a charismatic yet amoral gun runner, highlighting the film's sober take on modern capitalism and the American dream through the lens of two stoners dealing arms. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/war-dogs-review-2/) - **HeyUGuys**, Stefan Pape (3/5): The film follows two friends turning to arms dealing amid the Iraq War, with strong performances from the leads making the reprehensible characters watchable. Hill delivers a standout creepy and eccentric turn that captures the film's unpredictable tone. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/war-dogs-review/) - **The Ringer**, Sam Donsky (60/100, inferred): War Dogs marks Todd Phillips coming to terms with the emptiness of celebrating antiheroes in his films, delivering a story about friendship and business that reveals the characters as not true friends. It is a mixed but insightful take on Phillips' evolution. [Read](https://www.theringer.com/2016/08/22/movies/todd-phillips-characters-war-dogs-the-hangover-b4c73d7c1340) - **The Wrap** (15/100, inferred): The critic finds the film pointless and a waste of time, criticizing its lack of point of view on war, commerce, or its characters, and notes that the leads lack charisma. They single out the lazy song choices and murky cinematography for complaint. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/war-dogs-review/) ## Details - **Director:** Todd Phillips - **Director:** Todd Phillips - **Writer:** Stephen Chin, Jason Smilovic, Todd Phillips - **Cinematography:** Lawrence Sher - **Editor:** Jeff Groth - **Music:** Cliff Martinez - **Production design:** Bill Brzeski - **Costume design:** Michael Kaplan - **Producer:** Todd Phillips, Mark Gordon, Bradley Cooper - **Cast:** Miles Teller as David Packouz; Jonah Hill as Efraim Diveroli; Ana de Armas as Iz; Bradley Cooper as Henry Girard; Kevin Pollak as Ralph Slutzky; Patrick St. Esprit as Captain Phillip Santos; Shaun Toub as Marlboro; J. B. Blanc as Bashkim - **Runtime:** 1h 54m - **Certificate (MPA):** R - **Release (the US):** 19 August 2016 - **Genres:** Comedy, Crime, Drama - **Budget:** $50 million - **Box office:** $86 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWs5qnZnhfo ## Where to watch in the US - Amazon Prime Video: streaming, uhd - Amazon Prime Video: rent $5.99, uhd - Apple TV: rent $5.99, hd - Apple TV: buy $4.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $12.99, uhd *Checked 2026-09-20.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *Lord of War* (2005): Nicolas Cage sells guns and the film knows exactly what it thinks of him. - *The Wolf of Wall Street* (2013), Fi1m 82: The model Phillips was working from; longer, funnier and far less forgiving. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-wolf-of-wall-street.md) - *Pain & Gain* (2013): Michael Bay’s Miami idiots, played for grotesque comedy rather than charm. - *The Big Short* (2015), Fi1m 80: Another true story of men profiting from a disaster, explained straight to camera. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-big-short.md) - *Boiler Room* (2000): Young men, a scam, a small office and a father who disapproves. --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/war-dogs