The plethora of Netflix releases debuting on the streaming platform each week always has something for everyone, from quirky movies to foreign TV shows, reality series and more. Next week, however, there’s no doubt what the biggest new Netflix title will be (literally). That honor goes to The Gray Man, the Russo brothers’ star-studded $200 million spy thriller.
Some of you may actually see the movie – based on Mark Greaney’s The Gray Man spy novel franchise – this weekend. It’s showing in select theaters now, ahead of its Netflix debut next Friday. We have all the details about it below. Along with some other big new Netflix releases that will have everyone talking over the next week.
The Gray Man Netflix release date
Earlier this year, Greaney published the 11th novel in his Gray Man series (titled Sierra Six). The Netflix movie, however, pulls back from the beginning of the series, with the streamer describing the plot as follows: To see also : Netflix’s Ultraman movie looks pretty cool.
“The plot of the film unfolds as the CIA’s most skilled mercenary (Ryan Gosling)—whose true identity is unknown—accidentally discovers the shadowy agency’s secrets, and a psychopathic ex-colleague places a bounty on his head, setting off a global manhunt for an international killer.”
In addition to Gosling, the cast here also includes the Gray Man’s psychotic nemesis, played by ‘stiff Chris Evans; plus Ana de Armas, Bridgerton’s Rege-Jean Page and Jessica Henwick. I’ve read several of Greaney’s Gray Man novels and the most appropriate word I can think of to describe his work is escapism. If you love this genre, as I do, there is also room for different preferences. There’s everything from the cerebral, gentlemanly spy world of John le Carre to the action-adventure with which Greaney fills each of his novels.
If pure escapism is what you’re looking for, there’s no reason not to enjoy these novels. Or the movie — for that matter, it will be available to stream on Netflix starting July 22.
“I couldn’t be more amazed that The Gray Man is actually coming to the screen,” Greaney told me earlier this week. “It’s been a long journey from researching and writing the book in 2007 to seeing the final version of the film in 2022, but I know how lucky I am and I really hope audiences love it!”
Virgin River + more Netflix releases
In the meantime, we continue with some of the other high-profile Netflix releases likely to dominate subscribers’ viewing time next week: See the article : Viewers Call Netflix’s Most Fearful New Fact Sheets Ever.
Virgin River continues its surprisingly long run on Netflix. And we say “surprisingly,” because the fourth season of this show arrives on July 20. Moreover, there will be at least one more season after that. How often do you see Netflix shows extend to a fourth or fifth season?
For those unfamiliar with the story here, this is a synopsis from Netflix. “Looking for a fresh start, nurse Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) moves from LA to a remote town in Northern California and falls headlong into a bad case of culture shock. Local waiter and ex-Marine Jack (Martin Henderson) helps her adjust—and maybe win her heart—while taking on cases and messing with her cantankerous new boss (Tim Matheson).”
More new titles:
Indian Predator: The Butcher of Delhi: Those of you who can’t get enough true crime Netflix releases in your life? This is for you. The moody, atmospheric cinematography lends a haunting aesthetic to the series, which is built around a killer who rages against the system. To see also : Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ hits record views; HBO Max Potter film scores (NASDAQ:NFLX). Police are hunting him after the killer left mutilated bodies and notes taunting officers, urging them to catch him. Release date: July 20.
Too old for fairy tales: The story at the heart of this Polish-language Netflix film is by no means new. But audiences like me have a soft spot for this kind of thing anyway. Basically, it’s about a cute, socially awkward kid who plays a bunch of video games and wants to compete in an upcoming tournament. Games are his life. His eccentric aunt, however, along with his mother’s illness eventually forces him to make some changes in what he prioritizes in life. Release date: July 18.
One more new Netflix release to check out
Finally, a few words about the release date of another high-profile Netflix movie that just hit the streamer today (July 15).
Persuasion is another attempt at a feature-length adaptation of the timeless work of the magnificent author Jane Austen. Just this one… the critics get completely ripped apart. Austen flats are losing their minds at how bad they think this one is. Although, based on the current state of the film’s Rotten Tomatoes score, I suspect this could be another one of those cases where there’s a huge gap between critics and audiences. “Maybe” is the operative word.
Netflix’s Persuasion currently has a poor 37 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but a 63 percent audience rating. However, there is something to keep in mind. Part of the critics’ problem is with the fourth-wall breaking that dominates this film, a la Dickinson on Apple TV+ (which did it much better). It’s not a big deal to me – I can stand it or love it. Speaking of Apple TV+, Johnson also starred in a recent movie released via the iPhone maker’s streaming service: Cha Cha Real Smooth.
She was a sublime, ethereal presence in that film. Which is to say, when you pair that performance with her other recent work, like her turn in Netflix’s The Lost Daughter? Her presence alone is enough to elevate any film and make it worth at least a watch.
More Netflix Info: For more Netflix news, check out the latest new Netflix movies and series to watch.
