Key Takeaways:
- The year 2025 saw a mix of good and bad military entertainment, with some films and shows accurately portraying military life and others falling short.
- Authenticity was a key factor in the success of films like "Warfare" and documentaries like "MARINES".
- The gaming world delivered realistic experiences, with games like "Hell Let Loose" and "Squad 44" prioritizing authenticity over arcade action.
- Podcasts like "Wartime Stories" and "The Jocko Podcast" gave veterans a platform to share their stories and experiences.
- The Pentagon’s involvement in film production sparked controversy, with some filmmakers pushing back against script changes and others embracing the partnership.
Introduction to Military Entertainment in 2025
The year 2025 was a mixed bag for military entertainment, with some films, shows, and games accurately portraying military life and others falling short. Despite the lack of big-name directors tackling battlefield stories, some seriously impactful content was produced across various platforms. This article will explore the good, the bad, and the weird of military entertainment in 2025, highlighting what worked and what didn’t.
The Good: Authenticity in Film and Documentary
The year started strong with the release of "Warfare", a film co-directed by Alex Garland and Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza. The movie’s authenticity was its strongest aspect, capturing the visceral helplessness and brotherhood of combat. Critics praised it as the most forceful depiction of modern warfare since "All Quiet on the Western Front". Netflix’s "MARINES" documentary series also impressed, giving viewers unprecedented access to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit as they conducted high-stakes combat exercises in the Pacific. The series captured the professionalism and intensity of Marine operations without resorting to reality TV nonsense.
Gaming: Realism and Authenticity
The gaming world delivered some legitimate tactical experiences in 2025. While "Call of Duty: Black Ops 7" and "Battlefield 6" went head-to-head in the biggest military shooter showdown, smaller titles like "Hell Let Loose" and "Squad 44" made waves with their realistic gameplay and authentic portrayals of military life. These games proved that veterans and simulation fans wanted authenticity over arcade action. The free-to-play market also exploded with options for troops on deployment or in the barracks, with 55% of veterans reporting that they play shooters, compared to 39% of non-veterans.
Podcasts: Veterans Sharing Their Stories
The military entertainment podcast space saw explosive growth in veteran-hosted content. "Wartime Stories", hosted by Marine Corps reconnaissance veteran Luke Lamana, blended horror and mystery with real battlefield experiences. "The Jocko Podcast" maintained its dominance as the go-to for leadership and discipline content, while newer shows like "Beyond the Uniform" gave Medline’s veteran employees a platform to share transition stories and career advice. "Operation Encore" provided opportunities for veteran musicians to showcase their work, proving that military content doesn’t always have to be about combat.
The Weird: Experimental Films
Some films in 2025 tried something different, with mixed results. "Atropia" went full meta, following an aspiring actress working at a fake Iraqi town built in the California desert to train troops. The satirical film explored the lines between reality and simulation in military training, examining how we prepare for war through Hollywood-style role-playing. "Beast of War" answered the question nobody asked: What if World War II Australian soldiers fought a giant shark? The film combined old-school practical effects with genuine character development, proving that sometimes the most ridiculous premises can work if executed with enough skill and self-awareness.
The Bad: Phoned-In Films
Unfortunately, not all films in 2025 were successful. "War of the Worlds" took the classic H.G. Wells story and turned it into a screenlife disaster starring Ice Cube. Critics savaged it as incoherent and lifeless, with one reviewer noting it made them feel individual brain cells dying. "Shadow Force" tried to be a military thriller but became a generic, inert mess that bombed at the box office. The year’s attempts at military comedies also largely failed to land, feeling more like content than actual movies.
The Controversy: Pentagon Involvement
One of 2025’s most interesting military movie developments happened off-screen. Kathryn Bigelow’s nuclear thriller "A House of Dynamite" sparked a public dispute with the Pentagon over missile defense accuracy. The film claimed U.S. interceptors had a 61% success rate, while the Department of Defense insisted on 100% accuracy in controlled tests. The controversy highlighted the ongoing debate about the Pentagon’s involvement in film production, with some filmmakers pushing back against script changes and others embracing the partnership.
Conclusion: Lessons Learned
The year 2025 proved that military content doesn’t need massive budgets or A-list directors to succeed. The best films came from actual veterans telling authentic stories, whether through "Warfare’s" real-time intensity or "Boots’" honest look at LGBTQ service members. Documentaries like "MARINES" and "Surviving Black Hawk Down" showed audiences crave real stories over Hollywood heroics. Gaming reached new heights of realism, while podcasts gave veterans unprecedented platforms to share their own narratives. The democratization of media meant service members no longer needed Hollywood’s permission to tell their stories; they just needed a microphone or a development kit. As the entertainment industry looks to 2026, it’s clear that authenticity and realism will be key to creating impactful military content.