Netflix Fans Can't Stop Watching Charlize Theron's New No. 1 Action Thriller
Netflix has gone all-in on action this year, rolling out one high-profile release after another. The slate kicked off with The Rip, a crime thriller that reunited Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, before continuing in March with Alan Ritchson’s War Machine and the long-awaited Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. While those titles largely landed with both audiences and critics, the streamer’s latest action offering is proving far more polarizing. Despite boasting a stellar cast and all the makings of a hit, it may end up as Netflix’s most divisive action release of the year, one that viewers can’t seem to stop watching, even as reactions remain sharply split.
After leaning into crime and sci-fi with its earlier releases, Netflix shifted gears in April with a pair of survival thrillers. First came Thrash, a shark feature led by Phoebe Dynevor, Whitney Peak, and Djimon Hounsou, a film that critics and audiences were quick to tear apart. Its follow-up, Apex, has fared somewhat better, but not without its own share of divided reactions. The film brings together a trio of proven Netflix drawcards: Charlize Theron, fresh off The Old Guard; Taron Egerton, who scored a major hit with Carry-On; and Eric Bana, recently seen leading the crime series Untamed. Even with that pedigree, however, Apex has left a noticeable portion of viewers unconvinced, fueling the kind of split reception that often drives increasing, repeat views. Apex follows recently widowed Sasha (Theron), who retreats into isolation to process her grief, only to cross paths with Ben (Egerton), a calculating psychopath who marks her as his next target. While critics have been relatively receptive, audiences are far more divided. The film currently holds a 49% audience rating from over a thousand user reviews, reflecting a sharply divided response. While some viewers praise its tension and survival stakes, others dismiss it as a generic, recycled premise that brings little new to the table, with others feeling particularly let down by the third act. Regardless, Apex remains solid as Netflix's most-watched movie worldwide going into its second week, topping the charts in over 50 countries.
With the second quarter in full swing and summer fast approaching, Netflix has lined up a packed slate of high-profile releases. The streamer recently debuted a new adaptation of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, reimagined by Adolescence creator Jack Thorne. May 8 welcomes Remarkably Bright Creatures, a mystery drama starring Lewis Pullman and Sally Field.
Next up, the hit anime adaptation Devil May Cry returns for its highly anticipated second season on May 12, followed by the May 28 premiere of Season 2 of Four Seasons, widely seen as the platform’s answer to HBO's The White Lotus. Looking further ahead, the summer slate includes Enola Holmes 3 and the crime thriller The Whisper Man, led by Robert De Niro, Michael Keaton, and Adam Scott, arriving on July 1 and August 28, respectively. Stay tuned for more.
Release Date
April 24, 2026
Director
Baltasar Kormákur
Writers
Jeremy Robbins
