David Fincher’s The Killer made its streaming debut on Netflix just a few days ago, but it’s proven to be quite popular, shooting to the top of the streaming service’s Top 10 English Films List with 27.9 million views.
The Killer was #1 in 88 countries and reached Netflix’s Top 10 in 93 countries, making it the most-watched title of the week. The film is based on the French graphic novel of the same name written by Alexis “Matz” Nolent and illustrated by Luc Jacamon. Michael Fassbender stars as an assassin who gets embroiled in an international manhunt after a hit does wrong.
The Killer received largely positive reviews following its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. In his review of the film, our own Chris Bumbray said that it “feels like Fincher’s attempt to deliver Netflix a more straightforward film as payback for them bankrolling his (excellent) passion project, Mank. Yet, audiences who catch this on Netflix shouldn’t expect a wall-to-wall action romp. Instead, Fincher’s film is as cold and calculating as its protagonist, with his murderous trade less softened than usual for the genre. Fassbender’s nameless killer does things John Wick or the noble assassin played by Chow Yun-Fat in John Woo’s identically titled thriller would shudder at, including killing helpless bystanders that are, if not wholly innocent, then at least close to it.” Bumbray added that while The Killer isn’t “top-tier Fincher,” it’s still an “expertly assembled and entertaining” film that offers Michael Fassbender a “solid return to form after a slew of underwhelming films.” You can check out the rest of Bumbray’s review right here.
The film has also won the praise of David Fincher’s fellow filmmakers, including Guillermo del Toro, who tweeted, “The Killer is a beautiful Bronson movie if penned by Sartre and filmed by Melville with the briskness of a Siegel. I simply love, love, love when Fincher swings with a mean genre beat. Nimble and clockwork precise and fun. The breeziest film I have seen in a long time. It’s great when you can see a film and a movie at the same time.“
The Killer is now streaming on Netflix. What did you think of it?