Civil War 2024 is a shocking and bold war thriller from director Alex Garland, described as a “21st-century American collapse dystopian road movie.” Set in a near-future America torn apart by extreme political and social division, the film follows war correspondents as they document the horrors of conflict and the collapse of humanity. Striving for both popular entertainment and artistic depth, this is not just an action or war movie—it is praised for its deep exploration of modern polarization, the role of the media, and the conflicts within the human soul.
America is plunged into a brutal civil war as several states revolt against the authoritarian president’s long-term rule and dictatorship, declaring secession from the union. Four main factions—the federal government, the Western Forces, the Florida Alliance, and the New People’s Army—point their guns at each other. Veteran war photographer Lee (Kirsten Dunst), fellow journalist Joel (Wagner Moura), mentor Sammy (Stephen Henderson), and rookie Jessie (Cailee Spaeny) set out for Washington, D.C. to interview the president.
As they cross the war-torn landscape, they witness and document massacres, violence, and chaos. By capturing the horrors of civil war through their cameras, they come to realize the collapse of humanity and the futility of war. Using a road movie format, the film coldly depicts the brutality of war and the loss of humanity as the journalists travel through the battlefields.
The White House assault and the president’s execution deliver intense visual shock and provoke reflection on the nature of power and violence. Kirsten Dunst, known for her role in Spider-Man, plays veteran journalist Lee, subtly expressing both the horrors of war and human anguish. Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, and others also deliver outstanding performances in their respective roles. The film topped the box office in 30 countries worldwide, establishing itself as a blockbuster with both social commentary and artistic merit.
Civil War 2024
- Korean 시빌 워 분열의 시대 | Japanese: シビル・ウォー アメリカ最後の日
- Genre: Action, War, Drama, Thriller, Alternate History
- Director: Alex Garland | Writer: Alex Garland
- Producers: Andrew Macdonald, Allon Reich, Gregory Goodman, Alex Garland
- Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jesse Plemons, Nick Offerman
- Cinematography: Rob Hardy | Music: Ben Salisbury, Geoff Barrow
- Filming period: 2022–2023
- Production: DNA Films, A24 | Distributor: A24, CJ ENM
- Release date: December 31, 2024 (Korea), April 12, 2024 (USA)
- Running time: 109 minutes
- Budget: Approx. $50 million | Break-even: Approx. $100 million
- Box office: Approx. $125 million worldwide (Korean audience: ~113,772)
- Rating: 15+
Table of Contents
Civil War Rating
- Rotten Tomatoes: 81–82%
- Naver user rating: 8.1–8.4
- CGV Golden Egg Index: 91%
- IMDb: 7.0
Civil War Cast
Lee (Kirsten Dunst): Veteran war photographer, traumatized by the horrors she documents.
Joel (Wagner Moura): Lee’s colleague and journalist, aiming to interview the president.
Jessie (Cailee Spaeny): Rookie photojournalist, Lee’s mentee who grows through her experiences.
Civil War plot summary
A second civil war erupts in America between an authoritarian third-term president’s federal government and various separatist factions. The president claims victory is near, but rumors spread that the “Western Forces” (WF), led by Texas and California, will soon reach Washington, D.C. After witnessing a suicide bombing in New York, veteran war photographer Lee Smith and colleague Joel meet mentor Sammy and plan to interview the isolated president.
Sammy suggests they first head to the front line in Charlottesville, Virginia, before going to the capital. The next morning, Lee discovers that Joel has brought along ambitious young photojournalist Jessie Cullen, whom Lee met at the bombing site. The group leaves the city and stops at a gas station guarded by armed men. Jessie finds two looters being tortured in a nearby car wash and takes photos, but is chased by a guard. Lee defuses the situation by photographing the man posing with his victims. Jessie later berates herself for being too scared to take more photos.
After spending a night near ongoing fighting, the group documents a secessionist militia assault on a loyalist-held building. Lee recognizes Jessie’s talent and begins mentoring her, while Jessie photographs the execution of prisoners. The group stays at a refugee camp before passing through a town where residents try to ignore the war under the watchful eyes of guards.
They become caught in a sniper battle amid Christmas festival ruins. When asked which side he fights for, a sniper mocks them, saying he just kills whoever tries to kill him. Jessie becomes increasingly numb to the horrors of war, and her photography skills improve. She asks Lee if she would photograph her if she died in a combat zone, and Lee calmly says yes.
On their way to Washington, D.C., they meet foreign journalists Tony and Bohai. Tony and Jessie switch cars, with Bohai driving ahead. When the rest catch up, they find Tony and Bohai being held at gunpoint by soldiers burying civilians in a pit. Sammy stays behind while the others try to negotiate, but the soldiers’ leader executes Tony and Bohai for not being “Americans.”
In a desperate move, Sammy rams the soldiers with a truck to save the others, but is fatally shot while fleeing.
Civil War Ending (Spoilers)
Shocked, the remaining three arrive at the Western Forces base in Charlottesville. Most federal forces have surrendered, and only a few loyalists and Secret Service remain defending Washington, D.C. Joel, believing Sammy died in vain, drinks in anger, but Lee comforts him, saying Sammy would have wanted to die on duty. Quietly, Lee deletes the photos of Sammy’s corpse.
The group joins the Western Forces in their assault on the White House. Jessie repeatedly risks her life to take photos, while Lee suffers from PTSD. When the Western Forces breach the White House perimeter, the president’s convoy tries to escape but is destroyed. Realizing this was a diversion, the group enters the White House with the soldiers.
Inside the nearly abandoned building filled with corpses, a Secret Service agent tries to negotiate the president’s surrender but is killed. The remaining agents engage in a firefight with the Western Forces. Jessie, while photographing, is nearly shot, but Lee pushes her to safety and is killed by the Secret Service. Jessie captures Lee’s death on camera.
Jessie, now emotionally numb, enters the Oval Office and witnesses soldiers dragging the president from under his desk to execute him. Joel briefly delays them to ask the president if he has any last words; the president pleads, “Don’t let them kill me.” Joel says that’s enough, and Jessie photographs the soldiers posing with the president’s corpse.
Civil War Ending explained
“Civil War” sharply examines modern political conflict, the role of the media, and the darkness of human nature through the lens of war. The film depicts the horror of war, the collapse of humanity, and the limits and responsibilities of journalism, posing deep questions to the audience: Who is war really for?
By following journalists who risk their lives to record the truth, the film shows how easily people can be swept up in violence and hatred, and how dangerous and lonely it is to pursue the truth. Maintaining an impartial perspective, the film leaves viewers with the message that “war never changes.”
Through Jessie’s growing numbness to death and Lee’s struggle with PTSD, the film reveals the true terror of war: perhaps what is scarier than war itself is how people come to accept violence and conflict as normal.
Civil War Review
Director Alex Garland, known for his artistic and philosophical sci-fi thrillers, brings a cold, realistic eye to war, journalism, and the dark side of human nature. The film topped the North American box office and was number one in 30 countries worldwide, succeeding because it dares to confront the realities of war and violence that everyone knows, yet few want to face.
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