Alan Ritchson's sci-fi thriller War Machine has officially become the ninth most-watched movie in Netflix history, according to the platform's latest ranking. With 139.9 million views, the film has surpassed Ryan Gosling's The Gray Man (139.3 million), climbing the all-time chart just weeks after its release. The milestone underscores the pull of star-driven blockbusters in the streaming era.

139.9 million views and a 600,000-view margin over The Gray Man

War Machine's 139.9 million view count puts it just 600,000 ahead of The Gray Man's 139.3 million, according to Netflix's official all-time ranking. That slim margin means a single weekend of strong viewership could reshuffle the list. As the source reports, the figure also represents a slight uptick from the previously reported 139 million, indicating continued audience growth even as newer releases compete for attention.

Alan Ritchson: from Amazon's Reacher to Netflix's ampliffied action star

Ritchson's dual presence on two major streaming platforms is a rare feat. He is best known for playing Jack Reacher in Prime Video's adaptation, a role that has drawn millions of subscribers to Amazon. Now, as the source notes , his foray into sci-fi is proving equally lucrative for Netflix. This cross-platform appeal suggests Ritchson may be one of the few actors capable of anchoring franchises on competing services simultaneously.

War Machine's plot—a genetically enhanced soldier battling a rogue AI—taps into current anxieties about technology and identity, which may explain its broad resonance, according to critics cited in the source. The performance of Ritchson, praised for mixing vulnerability with intensity, has been a key draw.

What critics praised and what the numbers don't reveal

While the source highlights positive reviews for visual effects and Ritchson's performance, including a twist ending that has sparked online discussion, the viewership numbers alone don't reveal how many viewers finished the film or whether it will have lasting cultural impact. Netflix's all-time list measures total views, not engagement depth. The film's quick ascent raises the question: is this a genuine word-of-mouth hit or a product of Netflix's aggressive algorithmic promotion?

The open question: can War Machine climb past Red Notice and Don't Look Up?

The source notes that War Machine may climb higher, potentially overtaking other hits like Red Notice (which has over 200 million views) or Don't Look Up. But the gap is substantial—roughly 60 million views to reach the next tier. whether War Machine sustains its momentum will depend on how Netflix continues to surface it to new subscribers and whether inernational audiences drive additional viewership.