Why ‘Lucy’ Fans Are Obsessed with Streaming ‘Colombiana’ on Netflix Right Now

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10 years after hitting the big screen, “Lucy” has climbed to the summit of Netflix’s most-watched movies, making it a must-see for diehard action enthusiasts. Instead of moving on, these fans should stick around on the platform and check out “Colombiana,” another high-octane assassin thriller from Luc Besson that refines the vigilante revenge formula. Additionally, following Zoe Saldaña’s critically acclaimed, Oscar-winning portrayal in last year’s “Emilia Pérez,” viewers will gain a newfound respect for her action movie talents after watching “Colombiana.

While Lucy may not share the drug-enhanced superpowers of Lucy, Colombiana offers a fresh twist on the traditional one-person revenge narrative. Released three years prior to Lucy, it could be argued that Besson leveraged the lessons – both positive and negative – learned from the Colombiana experience to craft Lucy, which garnered more acclaim from critics but not necessarily audiences. However, if Lucy appealed more to professional film reviewers, here’s why Colombiana resonates with action enthusiasts:

Although Lucy doesn’t have drug-induced superpowers like the character Lucy, Colombiana offers a new take on the classic revenge story. Released three years before Lucy, some believe that Besson used what he learned from Colombiana to create Lucy, which was praised by critics but not necessarily audiences. But if Lucy appealed more to professional film reviewers, here’s why Colombiana appeals more to fans of action movies:

Zoe Saldaña Is a Skilled Assassin in ‘Colombiana’

Luc Besson collaborated with Robert Mark Kamen on the script for “Colombiana,” entrusting the directorial role to Olivier Megaton. Megaton skillfully directed the film, and its central idea revolves around Cataleya (Saldaña), a relentless Colombian woman seeking vengeance against her parents’ murderer. The story unfolds after witnessing her family brutally murdered by a drug lord in Bogotá when she was just nine years old. Prior to the massacre, Cataleya’s father had given her an SD card containing crucial information about the murderer, Don Luis Sandoval (Beto Benites), who subsequently dispatched his enforcer, Marco (Jordi Mollà), to eliminate the family.

15 years after the incident, in 2007, Cataleya has neither forgiven nor forgotten Don Luis for murdering her father, a fact she learns they were both involved in the drug trade. Over the past decade-and-a-half, Cataleya has climbed the ranks of the Colombian underworld, becoming a skilled and emotionally detached assassin who targets high-value individuals. Her signature is leaving a Cattleya flower, a native orchid, at every crime scene, aiming to lure Don Luis out of hiding and carry out her vengeance.

As Cataleya single-mindedly plots to take down Don Luis and any obstacles in her path, she demonstrates tireless cunning and unyielding determination, mowing down a horde of adversaries. The situation becomes more complex as the FBI enters the scene, initiating a manhunt for the perpetrator behind over 20 murders. With Cataleya gunning for Don Luis and his men, and the FBI pursuing Cataleya, Colombiana hurtles towards its action-packed, violent climax with breathless energy.

How Besson Refined the Assassin-Revenge Thriller With ‘Lucy’

Three years following the release of “Colombiana”, filmmaker Luc Besson pushed boundaries with “Lucy”, marking his return to writing and directing an assassin movie since “Leon: The Professional” in 1994, a genre he’s been honing since “La Femme Nikita” in 1990. In “Lucy”, Scarlett Johansson portrays the main character, an assassin, whose story revolves around a drug deal gone wrong that leads to her acquiring extraordinary psychokinetic abilities after being exposed to a synthetic drug called CPH4, which unleashes previously untapped mental capacity.

After CPH4 courses through her veins, Lucy transforms into an extraordinarily skilled assassin, boasting unparalleled cognitive abilities and intelligence. Fueled by her determination to retaliate against those who kidnapped her and compelled her to take the drug, Lucy assumes the role of a lone warrior, similar to the formidable characters fans have come to expect from the film Colombiana.

While the second movie might not share the same outlandish plotline leading to over-the-top actions, both films undeniably reflect Luc Besson’s signature style when it comes to portraying strong female characters reclaiming their lives, making decisive choices about their fate, and meting out swift justice against wrongdoers. In addition to the movies he has personally directed, the vigilante revenge theme is a trademark of his work, as evident in films like Taken, The Transporter, From Paris with Love, Lockout, 3 Days to Kill, among others.

Although ‘Lucy’ Was More Successful, Audiences Prefer ‘Colombiana’

In 2014, the movie Lucy, with its captivating plot, Johannson’s stellar acting, and Besson’s expertise in genre filmmaking, became a massive box office sensation. It raked in an impressive $458 million worldwide on a production budget of just $40 million (as reported by Box Office Mojo), making more than 11 times its initial investment. On the other hand, Colombiana, distributed by TriStar Pictures and Stage 6 Films, managed a moderate commercial success with global earnings of $63 million, compared to a production cost of only $10 million.

As a film enthusiast, I found myself captivated by the thought-provoking narrative of “Lucy,” a movie that garnered positive responses from critics, boasting an impressive 67% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film’s outlandish premise and introspective tone resonated with many reviewers. However, the very elements applauded by critics – the mind-expanding concept – were met with skepticism and disapproval by general audiences who deemed it too far-fetched and unrealistic. In the future, “Lucy” has managed to maintain a 47% rating on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter and a C+ Cinemascore grade.

In the realm of action movies, Colombiana seems to have resonated more strongly with casual viewers on Netflix compared to professional critics. While it garnered a 28% Tomatometer score from critics, among audiences it boasts a 67% Popcornmeter rating and an A- Cinemascore grade. Essentially, if you’re a fan of high-octane action films like Lucy, Colombiana offers an unstoppable dose of excitement that might remind you of the freshness and thrill Besson brought with earlier works such as La Femme Nikita.

Despite Colombiana’s intense, unsentimental portrayal of violence, Saldaña delivers a performance that rivals Johansson in Lucy. In some respects, the underestimated reputation of Colombiana reflects Saldaña’s career as an undervalued action star whose films have amassed over $15 billion worldwide, placing her as the second-highest-grossing leading actress historically (according to Work and Money).

In a subtle yet impactful way, Zoe Saldana demonstrates her box office might with Colombiana, proving she’s a powerhouse in the action genre that often goes unnoticed – similar to the film itself. Despite Johansson’s glossier resume featuring a successful Besson action movie and Academy Award, Saldana’s career has been quietly thriving for over a decade. While accolades may not dictate the enjoyment of Colombiana, it underscores Saldana’s underestimated prowess in high-octane action films.

Regarding Besson, he has several upcoming projects underway, one of them being Lucy 2, said to be in the scripting stage. As he perfects the assassin revenge thriller genre, fans eagerly await news about whether Johansson will reprise her role for this sequel. For now, Netflix viewers who appreciated the intense, high-speed action of Lucy can look forward to watching Colombiana, until that concludes. Notably, both Lucy and Colombiana are available for streaming on Netflix.

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2025-04-21 01:02