Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- earnest
- propulsive
- mythic
- fantasy marathon
- video game adaptation night
What critics said
Critics broadly agreed that Warcraft delivers visual thrills and ambitious world-building but is undermined by sluggish pacing, derivative storytelling, and an awkward video game adaptation.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Orcs flee the destruction of Draenor while the people of Azeroth defend their established home, giving the central war a divided moral perspective.
Gul'dan opens a portal from Draenor to Azeroth and uses captured prisoners to keep it active.
The film depicts Orc clans, magical fel energy, Azeroth, Draenor, portals, and wizardly combat through effects-heavy world-building.
Khadgar discovers fel magic in dead bodies and learns that the gate was opened with help from someone within Azeroth.
Films like Warcraft, and why
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
large-scale fantasy adventure with competing human and nonhuman factions, magic, political betrayal, and battles
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
video game adaptation centered on rival factions, expansive world-building, CGI spectacle, and urgent magical conflict
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
earnest fantasy action featuring portals, wizards, kingdoms, prophecies, and a battle between magical forces
300
high-concept fantasy war spectacle with morally divided sides, heroic warriors, and elaborate digital environments
Movie Details
- Director
- Duncan Jones
- Release Date
- 2016-05-25
- Runtime
- 123 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (7495)
Cast
- Travis Fimmel
- Paula Patton
- Ben Foster
- Dominic Cooper
- Ben Schnetzer
- Toby Kebbell
- Robert Kazinsky
- Clancy Brown
- Ryan Robbins
- Daniel Wu
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Warcraft about?
- A portal tears open a clash between Azeroth's human kingdom and desperate Orc clans in an effects-driven fantasy war shaped by magic, loyalty, and betrayal.
- What is Warcraft like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Warcraft as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Warcraft violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Warcraft as moderate.
- What did critics think of Warcraft?
- Critics broadly agreed that Warcraft delivers visual thrills and ambitious world-building but is undermined by sluggish pacing, derivative storytelling, and an awkward video game adaptation.
- Which films are like Warcraft?
- Films with a similar feel include The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and 300.
- How long is Warcraft?
- Warcraft runs 123 minutes.
- Where can I watch Warcraft?
- In United States, Warcraft streams on Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel.
