Tom Hanks’ Controversial War Movie Snipes a New Streamer

Tom Hanks and war-based projects go together like bread and butter. From the iconic Saving Private Ryan to the jaw-dropping HBO miniseries Band of Brothers (both also from the mind of Steven Spielberg​​​​​​), Hanks has been part of some of the best war movies and shows ever put to screen. However, not every one of his war projects has found huge success, with the 2007 comedy/drama Charlie Wilson’s War falling into obscurity compared to the rest of Hanks’ memorable filmography.

As a fairly forgotten entry in Hanks’ catalog, many of his fans might not yet have seen Charlie Wilson’s War. If that is you, then you’re in luck, as the movie has joined the slate of new arrivals this November on Starz. This slate includes five of the Mission: Impossiblemovies, Rian Johnson’s sci-fi flick Looper, Dwayne Johnson‘s The Scorpion King, the vampire movie Van Helsing, and much more. Hanks stars in Charlie Wilson’s War alongside an eye-catching cast, including acting royalty such as Julia Roberts, Emily Blunt, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams. The film was the final film of director Mike Nichols and boasts a slick script by Aaron Sorkin. For those yet to see the movie, a synopsis reads:

“In the 1980s U.S.Rep. Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks), Texas socialite Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts) and CIA agent Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman) form an unlikely alliance to boost funding for Afghan freedom fighters in their war against invading Soviets. The trio’s successful efforts to finance these covert operations contributes to the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.”

‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ Was a Hit With Critics

The movie may have evaded you until now, but, as far as the critics who first reviewed Charlie Wilson’s War are concerned, the movie isn’t to be missed. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an impressive, “certified fresh” 82% score from critics, with the consensus on the site reading, “Charlie Wilson’s War manages to entertain and inform audiences, thanks to its witty script and talented cast of power players.” However, not all the movie’s reception was positive, with the film facing backlash from some viewers who critiqued its depiction of the Soviet-Afghan War and the rise of extremist groups that followed.

Charlie Wilson’s War is available to stream on Starz. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming updates.