‘Knight and Day’ is a Streaming Hit on Netflix 15 Years After Its Release

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Although it didn’t achieve the blockbuster success its stars were accustomed to when it premiered in 2010, the action comedy has been experiencing a revival on Netflix’s global rankings. Despite not being accessible to U.S. subscribers (it can be found on Paramount+ and Prime Video), the movie climbed to the fourth spot on their chart, surpassing other well-liked titles like “Carry-On.

In this film, masterfully directed by the sought-after James Mangold, Tom Cruise takes on the role of Roy Miller, a fugitive secret agent evading the CIA. Unwittingly, he draws car restorer June (portrayed by Diaz) into his chaotic world. Here’s a comprehensive summary of the movie:

Tom Cruise plays Roy Miller, a secret agent on the run from the CIA who inadvertently involves an unsuspecting car restorer named June (played by Diaz) in his tumultuous life. The story unfolds as follows:

On a flight departing Kansas, June Havens engages in conversation with an intriguing travel companion. Little does she know, this ordinary journey will quickly turn into an exhilarating global escapade. The man beside her, Roy Miller, alleges he’s been framed to face false accusations. With unwilling compliance, June finds herself involved in a thrilling chase that takes them from Boston’s dangerous streets, to the rooftops of Austria, and even narrowly escaping bulls in Spain. Along their journey, both June and Roy discover that trust is the vital key to survival.

Although boasting high-profile actors like Peter Sarsgaard, Paul Dano, and Viola Davis, as well as being directed by Mangold, the movie didn’t perform exceptionally well financially, earning just $262 million globally. It received mixed responses from both critics and viewers alike.

Did ‘Knight and Day’ Suffer for Having Too Much Action? Roger Ebert Thought So

In the Tomatometer, Knight and Day received a 51% rating (with a slightly lower 49% from audiences), which may not have boosted its earnings at the box office significantly. However, esteemed critic Roger Ebert didn’t view the movie as an utter flop, awarding it three out of four stars. His main criticism was the excessive action scenes that interfered with the film’s comedy and romantic aspects, as expressed in his review:

Knight and Day yearns for the gentle allure of romantic action-comedies like ‘Charade’ or ‘Romancing the Stone’, but would hit the mark more accurately if it reduced the incessant action. The romantic aspect is evident following an airport-set Meet Cute, and the humor appears to flow effortlessly between Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. However, why do so many summer movies feel compelled to subject us to excessive Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI)?

To put it simply, the criticism about excessive CGI in Cruise’s films hasn’t significantly evolved in the past 15 years. However, Cruise has attempted to combat this by performing death-defying stunts like leaping off cliffs and parachuting from planes, making the action as authentic as possible. Interestingly, it appears that such relentless action is what’s drawing viewers back to his films even years after their initial release. Streaming services are teeming with action movies, and it seems that the 2010 collaboration between Cruise and Diaz in this genre is striking a chord with a new audience all over again.

This year, Diaz and Jamie Foxx will team up for the Netflix action-comedy “Back in Action,” while Tom Cruise is set to rejoin the “Mission: Impossible” series with “The Last Mission.

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2025-01-15 18:01