A 2025 World War II movie is finding unexpected success on HBO Max. It has climbed to No. 2 on the platform’s film chart. It combines the war genre with survival and horror elements, with its streaming boost bringing it renewed attention.

According to FlixPatrol, Beast of War has reached the No. 2 spot on HBO Max. Kiah Roache-Turner directed the Australian thriller, which combines World War II action with elements of survival horror. The film’s current chart performance comes after its 2025 release.

Beast of War currently sits just behind DC’s Supergirl on HBO Max’s film lineup, making it one of the platform’s notable recent performers.

What to know about Beast of War before watching it

Beast of War takes place during World War II and draws inspiration from the sinking of HMAS Armidale in 1942. Japanese aircraft attacked the Australian naval vessel in the Timor Sea. It uses that historical event as a foundation while adding fictional elements to its story.

The film centers on Australian soldiers who become stranded at sea after their vessel sinks. Their struggle for survival becomes even more dangerous when they encounter a great white shark. The premise combines wartime survival with creature-feature horror.

Beast of War stars Mark Coles Smith as Leo. The cast also includes Joel Nankervis, Lee Tiger Halley, Sam Delich, Maximillian Johnson, Sam Parsonson, Tristan McKinnon, and Steve Le Marquand. Director Roache-Turner also serves as the writer of the film. Chris Brown and Blake Northfield are the producers. The film has an 87-minute runtime.

The film currently holds a 90% Tomatometer score from 39 critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, while its audience score stands at 55%. With its recent HBO Max chart position, Beast of War is now reaching viewers who may have missed the film when it was first released.