<Tr> <Th> Budget </Th> <Td> $40 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $86.2 million </Td> </Tr> <P> War Dogs is a 2016 American biographical black comedy - drama film directed by Todd Phillips and written by Phillips, Jason Smilovic and Stephen Chin, based on a Rolling Stone article by Guy Lawson . Lawson then wrote a book titled Arms and the Dudes detailing the story . The film follows two arms dealers, Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz, who receive a US Army contract to supply munitions for the Afghan National Army worth approximately $300 million . The film is heavily fictionalized and dramatized, and some of its events, such as the duo driving through Iraq, were either invented or based on other events, such as screenwriter Stephen Chin's own experiences . </P> <P> The film stars Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, Ana de Armas and Bradley Cooper, who also co-produced . Filming began on March 2, 2015 in Romania . The film premiered in New York City on August 3, 2016 and was theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures on August 19, 2016 . It received mixed reviews from critics and grossed over $86 million . Hill received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance . </P>

Who was the film war dogs based on