The Top Secrets Behind Netflix's Thrilling Action Movies

Netflix remains the preferred streaming platform for countless fans, serving as a reliable source of entertainment. However, the foundation of their success lies not in a wide array of enjoyable classics, but rather in their ability to produce top-notch original content. While their past decade has seen the emergence of exceptional series under the Netflix brand, their more recent action films have failed to meet expectations.

The action genre, like many others, has become monopolized by a handful of marketable franchises. While there is still room for innovation, there is a concerning abundance of recycled concepts featuring new actors in leading roles. Unfortunately, Netflix is among the main culprits, often prioritizing flashy poster designs over the substance of their plotlines.

Netflix's action movies have never been critical hits

Streaming action movies feel like they're missing something

Heart of Stone marks the latest addition to Netflix's high-budget action projects, aiming to establish Gal Gadot as a consistently successful franchise lead. While she has played smaller roles in the Fast and Furious Saga and currently holds the title of Wonder Woman (for now), she also stars in Red Notice alongside two other prominent actors. Following its release, Heart of Stone enjoyed a significant presence on Netflix's top 10 most-watched movies list. However, the film received a disappointing 27% positive rating from 121 critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Red Notice, another film starring Gadot, fared slightly better with a 10-point increase in its rating. Ryan Reynolds, Gadot's co-star in Red Notice, previously headlined 6 Underground, which achieved only a 36% rating. In comparison, Ryan Gosling's fast-paced spy movie, The Gray Man, garnered a rating of 45%. Triple Frontier, on the other hand, stands as an exception with a strong 70% positive rating. Certainly, The Old Guard emerges as the undisputed champion with an impressive 80% rating. Such remarkable successes at this level typically revolve around a solid central concept, a fortune not enjoyed by most films.

Netflix's action library suffers from a glaring issue: every notable entry prioritizes the promotion of its stars instead of crafting a compelling narrative. Rather than grasping what made popular action films enjoyable, most of these productions merely borrow tropes without understanding the essence behind their appeal. In terms of storytelling, they predominantly revolve around spy movies, downplaying the elements of espionage in favor of relentless running, shooting, and punching. While Red Notice, Heart of Stone, and The Gray Man possess distinct differences and unique characteristics, they ultimately resemble lackluster episodes of a well-funded yet monotonous TV series. Surprisingly, despite the absence of restraint, these films fail to build towards a cohesive spy genre cinematic universe as one might expect. The few exhilarating action set pieces in The Gray Man or the decent stunts in Heart of Stone are insufficient in justifying the overall existence of these films. What is truly needed is a premise capable of captivating audiences without relying solely on the allure of superstar actors displayed on the poster.

The usual comparison point to films like Heart of Stone is the Mission: Impossible franchise. They have too many similarities to be overlooked. Heart of Stone aims to establish Gal Gadot with a similar multi-film deal like Tom Cruise. To examine the feasibility of this concept, imagine a version of Mission: Impossible without Tom Cruise. Those excellently executed spy films would not exist without Cruise. It's comparable to homeopathy. They are stripping down the already meager plot and storytelling elements to seamlessly insert a new lead actor into the role. There is little left to rely on. These films exhibit uninspiring writing, uninteresting plotlines, and ludicrous narrative directions. Several action films on Netflix fail to consider the consequences of their story, occasionally delivering peculiar and morally questionable conclusions. Skilled filmmakers often seem to work on autopilot while assembling these projects, comforted by the fact that the name in the credits will sell the film. Their success rate has been frustratingly consistent for far too long.

Extraction is the exception to the rule

Extraction and Extraction 2 stand out among Netflix's action offerings for their outstanding quality. Although they share some flaws, the final outcome is highly satisfying. Chris Hemsworth expertly portrays the protagonist, Tyler Rake, a skilled mercenary. The Extraction movies boast some of the most thrilling action sequences available on the streaming platform. This film triumphs by managing expectations and delivering a solid performance. Hemsworth's dedication to performing daring stunts, battling stuntmen, and even setting himself on fire for dramatic effect is commendable. Instead of aiming to promote his personal brand or establish a larger franchise, Hemsworth seems driven solely by the desire to deliver an exceptional experience. These movies may have their fair share of absurd moments and the most comical use of colors to indicate a location, yet they still appear to have a genuine purpose behind their creation.

Netflix will continue producing feature-length commercials for celebrities. Red Notice will have a sequel, The Gray Man is expected to have a new installment and a spin-off, and Heart of Stone may have generated enough profit for Gal Gadot to have another opportunity. These films are likely to maintain their presence on the service's Top 10 movies lists, as streaming audiences struggle to decide what content to watch. When they come across a performer they like in an unfamiliar film, they are inclined to give it a chance. This unique behavior of the abundant options available to streaming viewers will provide a platform for mediocre action films for a prolonged period. It would be beneficial if viewers could start researching these films before selecting them to watch.