Netflix Finds New Hit With Ryan Gosling’s 126-Minute Action Flick From ‘John Wick’ Creator

By Source / August 25, 2026

One of the best action movies made in the last 20 years has become a big streaming hit on Netflix. The film, based on the 1980s TV series of the same name, sees Hollywood icon Ryan Gosling in one of his most underrated and funniest performances. Co-starring Emily Blunt, the movie incorporates comedy elements into the action spectacle from director David Leitch, best known for co-creating John Wick and directing huge movies such as Deadpool 2 and Hobbs & Shaw. While it didn’t make billions, it has all the potential to become a cult classic led by one of the most charismatic actors today, and with this newfound success, it’s finally getting the recognition it deserves.

A Creative Action Outing With Franchise Potential

The Fall Guy tells the story of Colt Seavers (Gosling), a stunt performer whose career has seen better days. Now retired and away from the film sets, Colt is approached by a producer to join her latest production, “Metalstorm,” featuring Colt’s ex Jody Moreno (Blunt) as director. When the stuntman takes the gig, he finds out the main star has disappeared, and if he wants Jody to triumph as a filmmaker, he must do whatever he can to find the missing actor. He just doesn’t know that he may be walking into a situation that’s more dangerous than any stunt he’s ever performed.

The best thing about The Fall Guy is – yes, you guessed it – Ryan Gosling himself. The actor has a natural charisma that has been essential to some of his most notable roles, with this year’s Project Hail Mary standing among the best of his career. In The Fall Guy, he plays a diva-esque doofus trying to survive an absurd conspiracy featuring every Hollywood cliché you can think of. The role does allow Gosling to show his action skills, but in the end, he’s the silly sweetheart viewers expect him to be. The film reeks of franchise potential, so where’s the sequel to The Fall Guy?

Just 2 Years Later, ‘The Fall Guy’ Becomes One of the Biggest Hits in the World

Released in May 2024, The Fall Guy had a very short theatrical run, with a quick transition to digital streaming only weeks after it premiered on the big screen. This likely contributed to its underwhelming box-office performance. It grossed $181 million, but against a significantly high budget of $150 million, it just wasn’t enough for the studio to make a profit, and was quickly deemed a commercial flop.

However, the critical reception was very positive. It quickly earned an 81% critics’ score and 84% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and landed among the highest-rated projects involving its cast and crew. Such a positive reaction continues today, as The Fall Guy has climbed the streaming charts and officially become a hit again.

Per the latest update to Netflix’s global charts, The Fall Guy sits at No. 9 on the streamer’s Top 10 list of most-watched movies. Though more recent titles like The Last House and 72 Hours rank higher, this shows that Gosling’s action flick is still a highly rewatchable and fun piece of mindless entertainment.