Netflix’s Action Thriller ‘Man on Fire’ Reboot is a Global Streaming Success

Netflix has yet another action-packed winner on its hands. Shortly after the release of Apex (starring Mad Max‘s Charlize Theron and Kingsman‘s Taron Egerton), the new number one action movie on the streamer, Netflix, has unveiled its latest action series, and it’s also dominating on the streaming charts. Not only is Netflix’s new action show a well-reviewed, action-packed show with tense shootouts and explosive moments, but it’s also a remake of a modern action classic. Denzel Washington led the original Man on Fire in 2004. But now it’s time for Aquaman‘s Yahya Abdul-Mateen II to take over.

Netflix’s Man on Fire recently dropped on the streamer, and audiences are already obsessed with the new action thriller. Developed by Kyle Killen (who’s redeeming himself after Halo), Man on Fire is a lone-wolf, one man against a criminal empire type of action thriller that really doesn’t hold back with its action. The series is one of Netflix’s darkest action thrillers to date. No wonder it’s getting so much love from viewers. At the time of writing, Man on Fire is the number one series on Netflix in the US and across the globe. The global Top 10 is a hodgepodge of various genres, including the true-crime show, Should I Marry a Murderer, the Korean horror series, If Wishes Could Kill, and the American sports comedy, Running Point. But, Man on Fire is, well… on fire, beating all those shows, and many more new releases to the top spot on the streamer’s charts.

Released on Apr. 30, Man on Fire stars Mateen II as John Creasey, a former Special Forces Mercenary who struggles with PTSD after being discharged. Looking to put his violent life behind him, he unintentionally sets down a path of even more brutality when he seeks to protect a teenage girl on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. The series also stars Billie Buollet, Alice Braga, Bobby Canavale, Thomas Aquino, and Scoot McNairy.

‘Man on Fire’ Will Make Action Fans “Wince”

Man on Fire might be cooking up a storm on the streaming charts, but it’s more of a smoldering ember when it comes to the reviews. The series holds a very middling 55% on Rotten Tomatoes. Although that’s still higher than the Denzel Washington original, which holds a measly 39% rating. Most of the reviews for Netflix’s reboot praise Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s performance as Creasy, but say that such a strong performance is lost in a weakly written series.

However, one thing critics cannot fault is the show’s action. “Some of this action show’s scenes are so dark they’ll make you wince,” read The Guardian‘s review, giving the show 3/5 stars.

Is ‘Man on Fire’ Destined to Become a Cult Classic?

The cult-classic status is nothing new for the Man on Fire… franchise? Denzel Washington’s original movie may have a poor Rotten Tomatoes score, but its audience score is absolutely ablaze at 89%. Netflix’s Man on Fire hasn’t reached such lofty heights. But, with an audience rating of 72%, somebody definitely needs to call the fire department.