2 Years Later, Netflix's Reacher Meets Rambo Movie Remains Its Action Thriller Masterpiece

Published Sep 6, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT Padraig is a Senior Features Writer and has been part of Screen Rant since 2017. Padraig is a writer, editor and retired Game of Thrones extra who has been writing about movies and TV online for over a decade. He has also written for The Irish Times, Den Of Geek, Little White Lies and many more. It's pronounced Paw-rick, BTW. Two years after it debuted, Netflix's Reacher meets Rambo thriller might just be its greatest original action film. Looking at Netflix's original movies, there is a surprising lack of franchises. The Extraction saga has been a reliable performer (and one that has two new movies and a TV spinoff on the horizon) but elsewhere, few of its would-be franchise launchers have actually led to sequels. Red Notice was one of their biggest movies ever in 2021, but plans for multiple follow-ups have yet to bear fruit. The Russo Bros' The Gray Man was meant to kick off a new cinematic universe, but again, a sequel has failed to materialise. The same is true for Netflix's acclaimed 2024 action thriller Rebel Ridge, which made it's leading man, Aaron Pierre, an instant star. This thriller has shades of the first Rambo movie, First Blood and Reacher, as Pierre's former Marine clashes with a corrupt police force in a small town. The film is brimming with tension, and when the action finally explodes, it's incredibly cathartic. There is a strong case to be made that Rebel Ridge is Netflix's best original action movie, and there are many reasons why. Rebel Ridge Is One Of Netflix's Best Action Movies Credit: Patti Perret/Netflix In a sense, it's not right to label Rebel Ridge a straight-ahead actioner. It's not like a John Wick movie where the story is largely built around the setpieces. Instead, it's a slow-burn thriller where Pierre's Terry cycles through his limited options to get back the money the police seized from him, until there is no further choice for him but to use his almost supernatural fighting talents. The fights in Rebel Ridge are suitably intense, but what gives them a unique edge is that Terry is actively avoiding taking lives. Firstly, killing cops would only complicate his situation, but more than that, it allows Terry to retain the moral upper hand. It's far more satisfying watching him take down attackers who aren't fast enough to stop him. What's more, the film is very rooted in character. Terry is racing against the clock to save his cousin's life, and makes an unlikely ally in local clerk Summer (AnnaSophia Robb). Neither one of them wants to take on the local Chief (a particularly menacing Don Johnson), but they're also not willing to let his corruption go unchecked. Rebel Ridge Proved Aaron Pierre Was A Star It has been well-documented that Rebel Ridge suffered a messy production, with filming being canceled twice. The first was due to the COVID pandemic, and the second was when the original lead, John Boyega, left during filming. The official explanation was that Boyega exited due to family reasons, though reports later emerged suggesting he was unhappy with various aspects of the production, including the screenplay. It should be noted, however, that these reports were refuted by Boyega's agent. Whatever the case, this meant Rebel Ridge director Jeremy Saulnier needed a new leading man, which he soon found in British actor Aaron Pierre. It's honestly hard to image the movie now with Boyega in the lead role, since Pierre is so perfect. Aaron Pierre made his movie debut in M. Night Shyamalan's 2021 horror Old. He's captivating from the first scene, and utterly convincing in the action sequences. The character has shades of Jack Reacher in that he's a stoic man of few words who detests bullies, but Terry is ultimately a more grounded, emotional character. It takes a lot to get him angry, and unfortunately for Rebel Ridge's villains, they make him VERY angry indeed. Rebel Ridge Should Still Get A Sequel By the time the end credits roll, it's clear Pierre is a star in the making. Sadly, despite Rebel Ridge feeling like it could launch a Reacher-inspired franchise, there are no signs that will happen. Shortly after the movie's success, Pierre was snapped up for projects like Lanterns and Star Wars: Starfighter. Saulnier, meanwhile, jumped right into his next movie, October. If Netflix were smart, they would see Rebel Ridge as a potential Jack Reacher-type franchise that Pierre could return to every few years, but it appears neither the streamer nor the filmmakers behind it are interested in pursuing that. Release Date September 6, 2024 Runtime 131 Minutes Director Jeremy Saulnier Cast Aaron Pierre Terry Richmond