Clearly, Netflix subscribers were looking for an intense action movie to liven up their end-of-year viewing, as a new arrival starring Jason Statham has rocketed straight to the top of the streaming service's charts within days of landing on the streamer.
The movie in question is Guy Ritchie's 2021 heist thriller, "Wrath of Man." It's a remake of the 2004 French movie "Le convoyeur," and sees Statham hitting the streets as "H"/Patrick Hill, an armored truck guard who's secretly seeking vengeance.
It wasn't exactly the highest-rated movie of the year amongst critics (it's sitting at 68% on Rotten Tomatoes), but action fans loved it, as it's still rated 90% on the Popcornmeter from fellow moviegoers.
If Ritchie's trending watch caught your eye and you're trying to decide whether to stream "Wrath of Man" on Netflix, here's a little more info about "Wrath of Man," and a round-up of what critics have said about Netflix's latest No. 1 movie.
What is 'Wrath of Man' about?
Guy Ritchie's "Wrath of Man" centers on "H"/Patrick Hill (Jason Statham), an enigmatic cash truck guard who starts a new job at security business, Fortico. On his very first day in the field, he surprises his colleagues when he unleashes precision skills during a heist attempt out, leaving his co-workers wondering about his history — and this mysterious marksman's real motive soon becomes clear as he takes dramatic steps to settle a score.
In addition to Statham, "Wrath of Man" also stars Jeffrey Donovan, Josh Hartnett, Laz Alonso, Raúl Castillo, Deobia Oparei, Eddie Marsan, Scott Eastwood, Darrell D'Silva, Babs Olusanmokin, and Chris Reilly.
Should you stream 'Wrath of Man' on Netflix?
I almost feel like I don't need to make an argument here when it comes to "Wrath of Man." If you enjoy simple, gritty and frequently violent heist thrillers, then you're in for a good time. Just don't go in expecting the frequently "jokey" Ritchie vibe; this is a decidedly more dark watch than something like "Snatch."
"Wrath of Man" plays out across four acts. It's a bit of a potboiler to begin with, establishing Hill's vendetta and establishing the major players in the big Black Friday depot heist that caps the film off in suitably satisfying fashion.
It's a tight, efficient and well-executed watch, and while it's not the most inventive story, it offers enough intrigue and twists to keep the story moving and to hang the action together, and hinges on a menacing, no-nonsense turn from our lead.
If you need a second opinion, it may not have been universally loved, but "Wrath of Man" earned some solid reviews from several critics.
Variety's Peter Debruge said: "Like the H character, "Wrath of Man" walks into the room confident and secure in its abilities, professional, efficient and potentially lethal."
Empire critic Nick de Semlyen offered a 3-star verdict, branding the movie a "nice surprise," adding: "If it gets a bit tangled up in its time-hopping reveals, it's largely an enjoyable, rattlesnake-mean thriller."
It even earned a perfect 4/4 score from RogerEbert.com's Matt Zoller Seitz, who declared is "one of Guy Ritchie's best-directed movies—and one of his most surprising, at least in terms of style and tone."
In short, if you're on the hunt for a new high-octane watch, then you might want to stream "Wrath of Man" on Netflix: this new No. 1 watch just might deliver the thrills you're looking for.
If you're not sold on "Wrath of Man," though, we can still help you find your next watch:. Check out our guide to the best action movies on Netflix or our definitive guide to the best Netflix movies you can add to your watchlist right now for tons more top streaming suggestions.
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