War of the Worlds (2025) Movie Review – Where to Watch Online
When you hear the title War of the Worlds, you probably think of epic alien invasions, sprawling chaos, and pulse-pounding suspense. From H.G. Wells’ original 1898 novel to Steven Spielberg’s 2005 blockbuster starring Tom Cruise, this timeless story has been retold in countless ways.
So when War of the Worlds (2025) hit Amazon Prime Video, I was curious. Could this new “screenlife” approach—a story told entirely through computer screens and online communications—bring something fresh to the table?
Unfortunately… what we got is a slow, baffling, and unintentionally hilarious alien invasion film that manages to be more about government data surveillance than the actual aliens.
The Premise: Aliens, Data, and Homeland Security
The film follows Will Radford (Ice Cube), a Homeland Security analyst tasked with monitoring threats through a sprawling mass surveillance program. His job is to track potential dangers by tapping into camera feeds, personal data, and basically anyone’s private life.
One day, an attack by an unknown extraterrestrial force shakes the nation. But instead of fighting back in a grand battle, Radford discovers something far stranger—these aliens aren’t here for our planet’s resources. They’re here… for our data. Yes, our personal information. Think credit card numbers, social media accounts, maybe even your Amazon cart.
Thematically, the movie tries to tackle privacy vs. surveillance, painting the government as equally suspicious as the alien invaders. In theory, it’s an interesting spin. In execution? It’s awkward, sluggish, and unintentionally comedic.
Style & Direction: A “Screenlife” Misfire
Director Rich Lee embraces the “screenlife” format popularized by films like Searching and Unfriended, where the audience only sees events through a computer interface. Done well, this style can create intimacy and immediacy.
Here? It feels like watching someone’s boring Zoom meeting. For an alien invasion movie, that’s a massive problem. Instead of watching cities crumble and humanity fight back, we see Ice Cube staring at a monitor, clicking through surveillance feeds, and occasionally FaceTiming colleagues.
The choice is even stranger considering War of the Worlds is historically a visual spectacle. Reducing it to a desktop screen drains the urgency right out of the story. It’s like watching Independence Day entirely from Jeff Goldblum’s laptop.
Performances: Ice Cube, Eva Longoria, and Missed Opportunities
Ice Cube has undeniable charisma in the right role. He’s been fantastic in Boyz n the Hood, hilarious in 21 Jump Street, and intimidating when needed. But here, he’s miscast.
As Will Radford, he spends most of the film delivering exposition in a monotone voice, occasionally yelling at his computer, and somehow making the most dramatic event in human history seem like just another Tuesday. The few attempts at humor—whether intentional or not—fall flat.
Eva Longoria appears briefly, though her role is underwritten and forgettable. The supporting cast mostly exists to fill tiny boxes on Radford’s computer screen while pretending to panic about… well, something.
The Alien Threat: More Laughable Than Terrifying
One of the most baffling creative choices is making the aliens data harvesters. They travel across the galaxy not to conquer worlds, but to collect our personal information like interstellar telemarketers. This metaphor for government surveillance could have been sharp and timely—if the execution weren’t so absurd.
Visually, the aliens look like they escaped from a mid-2000s video game. Low-resolution textures, awkward animations, and uninspired designs rob them of any menace. They’re more “cheap stock GIF” than “terrifying invader.”
Product Placement Overload
It’s no secret that Amazon produced this movie, but the product placement is so shameless it borders on parody.
Characters mention Amazon carts multiple times. An Amazon delivery driver becomes a heroic figure. The company’s drones play a role in saving the world. It’s like an extended Prime Day commercial masquerading as a sci-fi thriller.
By the finale, when Amazon’s logistics somehow help defeat the aliens, I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to clap… or unsubscribe.
Audience Reception: A 0% Rotten Tomatoes Score
Critics and audiences alike have not been kind to War of the Worlds (2025). It currently sits at 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, a rare and infamous achievement. Many viewers have described it as one of the worst movies of the year, with poor pacing, laughable effects, and a misuse of both its cast and its source material.
It’s the kind of movie you might put on only to roast with friends, Mystery Science Theater 3000-style.
Where to Watch War of the Worlds (2025) Online
If you’re still curious—or just want to see how bad it really is—you can watch War of the Worlds (2025) exclusively on Prime Video.
▶ Watch War of the Worlds (2025) on Amazon Prime Video
Final Verdict: A Missed Opportunity
Adapting a classic like War of the Worlds is no small task. There have been dozens of versions, and each needs a unique hook to stand out. Unfortunately, this 2025 entry confuses novelty for creativity.
By focusing almost entirely on a single man behind a computer screen, downplaying the alien invasion, and stuffing the script with product placement, it drains the source material of its tension and wonder.
If you want a War of the Worlds experience that thrills, stick to Spielberg’s 2005 version—or even the 1953 classic. Unless you’re in the mood for an unintentional comedy, this one is best left unwatched.
Have you seen War of the Worlds (2025)? Did you think it was an underrated experiment or the trainwreck many claim? Share your thoughts in the comments—and if you do decide to stream it, maybe have some friends over to make it a bad movie night.
