Is War Dogs Based on a True Story, Movie Plot, and More
by Ushapriyanga | Updated Apr 20, 2023
War Dogs Movie Info
"War Dogs" is a movie from 2016 directed by Todd Phillips and written by Phillips, Jason Smilovic, and Stephen Chin. It was based on a 2011 Rolling Stone article by Guy Lawson and Efraim Diveroli's 2016 memoir "Once a Gun Runner," which is currently the subject of a lawsuit. Lawson later wrote a book called "Arms and the Dudes" that tells the same story.
The film depicts the story of two arms dealers, Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz, who are awarded a $300 million U.S. Army contract to supply ammunition for the Afghan National Army. However, the film is heavily fictionalized and dramatized, and some events are not entirely accurate. The cast includes Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, Ana de Armas, and Bradley Cooper, who also co-produced the movie.
The film was shot in Romania starting on March 2, 2015, and premiered in New York City on August 3, 2016, before being released by Warner Bros. Pictures on August 19, 2016. Critics gave it mixed reviews, and it made $86 million at the box office. Jonah Hill received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance.
Is War Dogs Based on a True Story?
While "War Dogs" is inspired by true events and depicts the story of David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli, some of the events in the movie are fictionalized. Therefore, the real-life events differ from what was portrayed in the 2016 film "War Dogs."
The plot of "War Dogs" revolves around two arms dealers, David Packouz (Miles Teller) and Efraim Diveroli (Jonah Hill), who land a $300 million contract with the Pentagon to supply weapons to American allies in Afghanistan. Although the story may seem unbelievable, it is based on true events with some embellishments for cinematic purposes.
The core story of the movie accurately depicts the events that were first reported by Rolling Stone and later expanded upon in Guy Lawson's book, "Arms and the Dudes." The movie's co-writers, Todd Phillips, Stephen Chin, and Jason Smilovic, managed to stay true to the real-life backstories of Packouz and Diveroli, who were both low-level arms dealers.
Packouz was previously a massage therapist who sold bedsheets he bought from textile companies overseas, while Diveroli learned the trade from his uncle in Los Angeles and became a millionaire at just 18 years old. Even the website used by the Department of Defense to post weapon contracts for public auction was accurately portrayed in the movie.
Other details, such as the pressure the government faced to give no-bid contracts to smaller companies like Packouz and Diveroli's, are also accurate. The characters' quirks and actions, like getting high before an important meeting with military heads, are based on real-life events. The character of Iz, played by Ana de Armas, is also based on a real person and was not added solely for dramatic purposes.
What is War Dogs Based on?
War Dogs, a 2016 American film directed by Todd Phillips and written by Phillips, Jason Smilovic, and Stephen Chin, is based on a 2011 Rolling Stone article by Guy Lawson and Efraim Diveroli's 2016 memoir, "Once a Gun Runner," as outlined in an ongoing lawsuit. While the movie does capture the essence of the story and characters accurately, some creative liberties were taken to add drama, as is common in onscreen adaptations of true crime stories.
One significant difference between the film and real events is that Diveroli never fired a gun after a deal fell through, as shown in the movie's trailer and poster. Diveroli was not as reckless in real life, although the moment in the movie highlights his obsession with money and power.
In addition, none of the action depicted in War Dogs happened in reality. While Packouz and Diveroli did find themselves in some dangerous situations, most of their work was done behind a computer screen. Phillips exaggerated the danger to make the story more compelling. The pair did attend gun shows and travel abroad, but they never came under fire for transporting arms, and they never went through Iraq's Triangle of Death.
The movie also features a sequence where Packouz gets kidnapped by Henry Girard, played by Bradley Cooper. This moment bookends the film but is entirely fictional. Packouz was not the point man in Albania, where the kidnapping takes place, and Girard was based on Swiss Army dealer Henri Thomet. Although Thomet did try to cheat them and was cut from the deal, there was no kidnapping or torture.
War Dogs Plot
The movie "War Dogs" follows the story of David Packouz, a massage therapist who invests his savings in reselling bedsheets but fails. He then reunites with his old friend Efraim Diveroli, who runs AEY Inc., a company that sells arms to the US government for the Iraq War. Although David and his girlfriend Iz oppose the war, David takes a job at AEY, lying to Iz about the true nature of his work.
AEY bids for small military equipment orders worth millions, which are ignored by larger contractors. They secure a contract to provide Beretta pistols to the Iraqi Police, but an Italian embargo delays the shipment. David and Efraim bribe locals and transport the shipment into Iraq through dangerous territories. They deliver the pistols and impress Captain Santos, who pays them handsomely.
AEY lands larger and more lucrative deals, including "The Afghan deal," which requires 100 million rounds of AK-47 ammunition worth $300 million. Girard, an arms dealer on a terrorist watchlist, offers to make the deal through AEY, and they go to Albania to test the ammunition. David discovers that most rounds are Chinese-made and illegal due to a US embargo, and Efraim has them repackaged to conceal this. Efraim plans to cut Girard out of the deal, leading to a dispute that culminates in David's kidnapping and beating.
David quits AEY, and he and Efraim are eventually arrested by the FBI. Efraim is sentenced to four years in prison, and David pleads guilty and gets house arrest. The movie ends with Henry, the arms dealer, offering David money in exchange for his silence about Bashkim, the Albanian driver who went missing.
War Dogs Ending Explained
In the conclusion of War Dogs, Efraim is sentenced to four years in prison for his various offenses while David receives seven months of house arrest for his cooperation. Later on, Henry apologizes to David for his actions in Albania and expresses gratitude for not revealing his identity to the FBI.
David inquires about the meeting's purpose and Bashkim's fate, but Henry avoids answering and instead offers a briefcase full of money in exchange for no further questioning.
The ending leaves the audience wondering about David's decision to accept the offer or not, emphasizing his role as the movie's protagonist and his moral values. Throughout the film, David disagrees with Efraim's decisions and shows hesitation in joining him, which is mirrored in the final scene.
War Dogs is based on the true story of Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz, two arms dealers. Although highly fictionalized, the movie captures the essence of their real-life experiences. Bustle.com reported in 2016 that Diveroli was actively discouraging people from watching the film and instead promoting his memoir, Once a Gun Runner, and his media company, Incarcerated Entertainment.
Is War Dogs Based on a True Story - FAQs
War Dogs is a movie based on a true story about two young arms dealers, Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz, who win a $300 million contract from the US government to supply weapons to Afghan security forces.
The main characters in War Dogs are Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz, portrayed by Jonah Hill and Miles Teller, respectively.
Yes, War Dogs is based on a true story. However, the movie is a highly fictionalized version of the events that took place.
The running time of War Dogs is approximately 1 hour and 54 minutes.
Yes, War Dogs is available to stream on various platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and HBO Max.