‘Man on Fire’ Review: Yahya Abdul-Mateen’s Netflix Series Never Sparks
According to the CinemaDrame News Agency, the new Netflix series—a very loose adaptation of A.J. Quinnell’s 46-year-old novel and a cherry-picked remake of Tony Scott’s 22-year-old film—follows a depressed ex-mercenary who finds renewed purpose in protecting an orphaned girl.
Whether it is due to Denzel Washington’s vulnerable portrayal of an avenger, Tony Scott’s kinetic direction, or two decades of regular cable airings, “Man on Fire” has carved out a unique space in 2000s-era cinema. Now, Netflix attempts to revive the brand by replacing Washington with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Scott with Steven Caple Jr. However, this remake suffers from the standard issue of expanding a two-hour movie into a lengthy television season; it mimics enough of the original to remind audiences why they liked it, but never demonstrates an understanding of what made that adaptation work, nor does it offer enough innovation to justify its own existence.
In this version, John Creasy (Abdul-Mateen) remains depressed, haunted by memories of a failed mission that killed his comrades. At the invitation of his old friend Paul Rayburn (Bobby Cannavale), he moves to Rio de Janeiro to join a security team. When Paul’s daughter, Poe (Billie Boullet), witnesses a deadly bombing, Creasy takes on the task of protecting her. This path leads them into the world of Brazilian gangs and government corruption.
Despite a few decent fight scenes and lush South American locales, “Man on Fire” struggles to maintain momentum, wandering through a predictable plot. While Abdul-Mateen has proven his capability for richer drama and stronger action in works like “Watchmen,” the script here prevents an earnest or relatable depiction of Creasy’s internal demons.
The series’ greatest flaw lies in replicating Creasy’s brutality without the logical justification found in the original. In Scott’s film, Creasy’s unhinged violence was driven by the loss of the light that the girl brought into his life. Here, his savagery feels more like a workout to regain his edge after years of misery. Netflix’s series attempts to adopt the “scorched-earth” attitude of the original film without understanding its roots, wasting its lead’s talent and leaving behind only the ashes of a beloved brand.
Grade: C-
All seven episodes of “Man on Fire” were released on Netflix on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
