War Dogs (2016)
Where to Watch
- The original script for War Dogs was written over a decade before production finally began in 2016.
- Todd Phillips originally wanted a completely different ending for the film, but test audiences preferred the one we see today.
- Eagle-eyed viewers have noticed a hidden easter egg referencing Todd Phillips's previous film in the background of the opening scene.
War Dogs is a 2016 American crime comedy-drama directed by Todd Phillips, based on a true story. Jonah Hill and Miles Teller star as Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz, two young Miami friends who exploit a little-known government initiative allowing small businesses to bid on U.S. military contracts during the Iraq War. Starting with small deals for helmets and gun magazines, they escalate to a $300 million contract to supply the Afghan military with ammunition โ a deal they fulfill by sourcing cheap, decades-old Chinese-manufactured ammo through a complex web of international middlemen.
Jonah Hill's Efraim was a force of nature โ a fast-talking, morally bankrupt hustler whose ability to game government procurement systems while snorting cocaine and quoting Scarface made him one of Hill's most entertaining characters. Todd Phillips's direction balanced the comedic absurdity of two 20-somethings running an international arms operation with the genuine danger of dealing with corrupt foreign officials. War Dogs earned $86 million worldwide on a $35 million budget.
