Denzel Washington’s $130M Action Thriller To Be Removed From Netflix

A 2004 high-octane action film starring Denzel Washington will be leaving Netflix next month. Based on a book of the same name, it follows a CIA officer-turned-bodyguard as he goes on a ruthless mission to retrieve a child abducted under his supervision.

Man on Fire leaves Netflix in April

Man on Fire will not be a part of Netflix’s library from Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The film is based on A. J. Quinnell’s 1980 novel of the same name, and is the second adaptation following the 1987 film starring Scott Glenn.

The story centers on John Creasy, a struggling alcoholic and a former CIA operative. When he travels to Mexico, his friend Paul Rayburn helps him get a job as a bodyguard to Lupita “Pita” Ramos, the daughter of a wealthy man. Despite his stoic nature, he eventually forms a deep bond with the young girl. But after Pita gets kidnapped, Creasy goes on a violent mission to save the child.

Tony Scott helmed Man on Fire with a screenplay by Brian Helgeland. The cast features Denzel Washington as Creasy, Dakota Fanning as Pita, Radha Mitchell as Lisa, Marc Anthony as Samuel, and Christopher Walken as Paul, among others.

Unlike the novel and the previous adaptation, which were set in Italy, this one is set in Mexico City. As a result, the filmmakers changed the characters’ names. Reportedly, the studio considered Gene Hackman and Robert De Niro for the role of Creasy before ultimately landing with Washington.

Man on Fire debuted in cinemas on April 23, 2004, to a mixed-to-negative response from critics. However, the audience was more welcoming to it, which helped the film earn $130.8 million at the global box office (via Box Office Mojo). Additionally, it has a 89% Popcornmeter score from over 250,000 users. In contrast, the film has a 39% Tomatometer score from 166 critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

Source: Comingsoon.net