Movies

Netflix Is Losing an Action Thriller Classic Just Days Before Its TV Remake

Videos by ComicBook.com

On April 30th, Netflix is scheduled to debut its Man on Fire remake, but fans hoping to revisit the first adaptation of A. J. Quinnellโ€™s 1980 novel of the same name are running out of time. The Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning-led 2004 Man on Fire movie, directed by Tony Scott, is scheduled to leave Netflix on April 1st. The movie, as well as the upcoming Yahya Abdul-Mateen II-led series, centers around John Creasy, a burnt-out former CIA operative who finds a new lease on life while working as a bodyguard for a young girl in Mexico City. When she is kidnapped, he sets out on a relentless, violent vengeance campaign to destroy everyone responsible.

Man on Fire Is a Brutal, High-Intensity Revenge Thriller

If youโ€™re looking for a movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat, then Man on Fire will definitely do the job. Although the movie stretches past a two-hour runtime, every second of it feels urgent and charged through Scottโ€™s hyper-kinetic visual style and the movieโ€™s emotionally intense narrative. Man on Fire is a roller coaster journey that is just as much about the tender, evolving relationship between Creasy and young Pita as it is about high-stakes action, accentuating the brutal nature of Creasyโ€™s vengeance, which is ultimately driven by the intense personal loss he feels. The story is made even more believable and heartbreaking thanks to the standout performances and strong chemistry from Washington and Fanning.

Man on Fire was largely a miss with critics due to Scottโ€™s manic, experimental directing style and the movieโ€™s brutal, excessive violence. The movieโ€™s 39% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes makes Man on Fire tied with A Journal for Jordan as Washingtonโ€™s sixth-lowest-rated movie ever, but itโ€™s now a quintessential example of a film that was initially misunderstood but is now highly regarded. Itโ€™s even now considered to be one of Washingtonโ€™s best films ever and has a cult classic status. It remains to be seen how Netflixโ€™s upcoming remake will compare to the original, but early looks tease that it will be just as visceral and brutal as the Washington-led film.

Where to Stream Man on Fire After It Leaves Netflix?

With all seven episodes of the Man on Fire series dropping on April 30th, now is the perfect time to rewatch the 2004 film. Unfortunately, that is about to be a lot more difficult to do. Man on Fire only streams on Netflix, and it hasnโ€™t appeared on any of the major streaming servicesโ€™ April newsletters. This means that after its Netflix removal, the only online viewing options will either be renting or purchasing the movie.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!