Sand Castle

During the Iraqi occupation, a small U.S. Army unit is sent to shield a fragile village from insurgent threats. As the squad navigates sand blasted streets and tense checkpoints, they juggle orders, fatigue, and the pressure to protect innocent lives. The mission grows more complicated when civilians depend on them for more than security, while sporadic combat and limited supplies test their resolve. The tense blend of grit and moral dilemma remains as they improvise under fire, making hard calls about risk, loyalty, and the price of safeguarding a place under siege. The days blur into dangerous routines, where every decision matters. The heat and dust saturate the air as distant explosions echo, reminding them that the mission is as much about protecting civilians as about surviving another day.

Directed by Fernando Coimbra, Sand Castle adapts Chris Roessner's script into a lean war drama about a U.S. unit in Iraq. The Netflix release positions realism and tight character dynamics at the forefront, leaning on practical effects and restrained violence rather than glossy spectacle.

Sand Castle did not receive a theatrical release, as it premiered on Netflix in 2017. Because it was a streaming release, there is no traditional worldwide gross to report, and box office performance is not publicly disclosed.

Audiences and critics generally appreciated its restrained approach, focusing on camaraderie, decision making under duress, and the quiet costs of war. The film threads duty and humanity, showing how tense choices ripple through a tight knit squad and a vulnerable village, without resorting to easy heroics.

Cultural footprint is modest; the film drew attention for its grounded depiction of soldiers' routines and its Netflix presence rather than splashy marketing. It hasn't left a broad imprint on popular culture, but it resonates with viewers who prefer intimate war dramas over broad action spectacles.