Above all else, Netflix subscribers love themselves some good popcorn entertainment. Don’t believe me? Check the stats, dear reader. The numbers never lie. Case in point: The newly released action thriller Carry-On is currently dominating the charts. It has consistently ranked in the top ten since landing on the platform. The film currently stands as the streamer’s 5th most-watched English language picture of all time.
This thriller bears a striking resemblance to a legendary action sequel.
This Taron Egerton-led effort reads as a loving nod to Die Hard 2. Like its probable source of inspiration, the action here is set in an airport on Christmas Eve and follows a man trying to protect his wife from a terrorist plot. The similarities to Die Hard 2 are ample, but the finer details are different enough to keep the film from reading like a cheap imitation.
I enjoyed this one. Jason Bateman is a serviceable villain, even if his performance lacks range. Taron Egerton makes for a sympathetic protagonist with a satisfying arc. The action comes early and recurs often. Even a few unexpected narrative developments kept me guessing along the way. It’s fine popcorn entertainment, indeed.
In addition to Egerton and Bateman, the film’s impressive lineup includes Sofia Carson, Danielle Deadwyler, Theo Rossi, Tonatiuh, Logan Marshall-Green, and Dean Norris.
If you’re in the mood for an escapist thriller with a holiday backdrop, go to Netflix and give director Jaume Collet-Serra’s latest a stream. I think you may find yourself having a good time with it. At the very least, it’s a fast-paced popcorn thriller. And you could do much worse than that.
The setup for this Netflix actioner goes like this:
A young airline security guard is blackmailed by a mysterious passenger who threatens to smuggle a dangerous package onto a plane on Christmas Eve.
That’s all that we have for you at present. Be sure to watch for more thrilling updates on which films dominate the charts on your favorite streaming platforms. If you’d like to discuss further the collective merits of Christmas action cinema and its rightful place in our seasonal lineup, find me on Threads @FunWithHorror. Fair warning: If you follow me, you will be bombarded with pictures of my menagerie of pets.
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