A24’s „Warfare“ Cast Every Twitter Boyfriend – And The Promo Tour Still Flopped

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Despite having all the elements for a much-anticipated moment, Warfare’s promotional tour hasn’t gained as much traction as A24 may have hoped. Rather than sparking enthusiasm, online reactions have been predominantly skeptical, even downright critical. Interestingly, the intended audience seems to be showing little interest in the film.

Marketed To The Wrong Audience?

It appears that the movie was marketed towards a younger audience and those identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community, or so it was intended. Notably, popular figures like Kit Connor, Charles Melton, Joseph Quinn, and Will Poulter were prominently featured, and the promotional material emphasized their physical allure. However, the belief that queer viewers would be instantly attracted simply because of a kiss, some tattoos, and flirtatious images was off base. This film, after all, focuses on the Iraq War, not just its visual aesthetics.

It appears that the marketing team attempted to target both war movie enthusiasts and the LGBTQ+ community, but their strategy failed to resonate with either group.

When Things Got Weird

When the anticipated excitement didn’t materialize, things took an unexpected turn. Out of nowhere, video clips of Kit Connor and Charles Melton sharing a kiss surfaced online, an encounter that seemed overly staged and devoid of any palpable chemistry. One wit even commented it looked like they were enduring an electric shock. Clearly, this wasn’t the viral sensation the team had envisioned. Then, photos of the main cast posing in their underwear emerged: each one displaying their thigh tattoos in sync — a move that seemed to reinforce a vibe that had already fallen flat. From afar, it appeared as if they were advertising for a romantic comedy featuring gay characters.

“Once more, I found myself disappointed rather than entertained. The marketing strategy was swiftly branded as exploitative queerbaiting, with many critics noting the discomfort of using sexually suggestive visuals and staged affection to peddle a film that focuses on warfare.”

getting queerbaited by military propaganda is like losing chess to a rat

— Jordan (@Jordanbloked) April 3, 2025

The Challenge of Representing War on Screen

The movie is labeled as devoid of political bias and instead focuses on portraying the grim realities of conflict. So far, critics are impressed, but whether it resonates with viewers is yet to be determined.

It’s premature to make a definitive judgment about the film at this point, as it may have deeper layers than what we see initially. However, due to its American perspective and potential lack of Iraqi representation, some people are labeling it as war propaganda, which is quickly gaining traction online. This perception might be more pronounced among queer audiences who tend to scrutinize political themes in media more closely.

The Damage Might Already Be Done

Many people find it disconcerting, even inappropriate – to turn a promotional campaign for a war movie into a sexually charged spectacle. Given the staggering toll of the Iraq War, which claimed an estimated 200,000 Iraqi civilians and 4,492 U.S. service members, and left countless communities mourning, displaced, and scarred by trauma, it’s difficult to reconcile this tragic context with curated seductive images, synchronized leg tattoos, coy on-screen smooches, and viral-friendly video content. Such an approach not only feels wrong; it’s tone-deaf at best, and downright offensive at worst. And that’s why, for many, it appears as though Warfare has already lost their support.

just dudes being guys with their matching iraq war propaganda tattoos

— ijbol adjani (@MOULlNR0UGE) April 9, 2025

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2025-04-10 17:40