Idris Elba’s Underrated $59 Million Action Thriller ‘Beast’ Is a Streaming Success on Netflix

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Netflix is now home to a new action favorite! Along with several other great action films added in early April – like remakes of Anaconda, The Fifth Element, and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle – Idris Elba’s 2022 thriller has unexpectedly become a top-ten hit on the streaming service.

Despite a disappointing performance in theaters, the movie Beast is now a hit on Netflix. It quickly climbed to the top of the platform’s most-watched list, and while the initial excitement has cooled off, it remains very popular. Currently, Beast is the fourth most-watched movie on Netflix this week, behind Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle at number one, IF in second, and The Truth and Tragedy of Moriah Wilson in third.

In Beast, directed by Baltasar Kormakur (known for films like 2 Guns and Everest), Idris Elba plays Dr. Nate Daniels, a grieving father who brings his two daughters to a South African game reserve. Their vacation turns dangerous when a lion, being pursued by illegal hunters, begins to stalk them, mistaking them for a threat. Sharlto Copley co-stars as Dr. Daniels’ friend, Martin Battles, and Iyana Halley and Leah Jeffries play his daughters.

‘Beast’ Is Idris Elba’s Version of ‘The Grey’

As a critic, I’ve seen a lot of ‘man versus wild’ movies. It’s a classic setup, really, and Jaws pretty much perfected it back in ’75. Every film since has been chasing that same thrill. Liam Neeson tried his hand at it in the surprisingly good The Grey a few years ago, and recently Idris Elba took the lead in Beast. Honestly, while Elba is fantastic, the movie just didn’t quite live up to its potential.

Despite sounding like a potentially bad movie, Beast actually received mostly positive reviews, earning a 68% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences liked it even more, giving it a 77% rating. However, very few people saw it in theaters. While it was released in 2022, when many were still hesitant about going to cinemas after the COVID-19 pandemic, Beast only made $59 million worldwide despite its $36 million budget and the presence of star Idris Elba.

A New ‘Beast’ Movie Releases This Year… But It’s Very Different

It’s no surprise that “Beast” is a popular movie title. Besides the 2022 film starring Idris Elba, another movie called “Beast” is coming out this year. However, this new one, starring Russell Crowe, isn’t about wild animals. It’s a crime thriller set in the world of MMA, where a retired fighter is forced to return to the ring to cover his brother’s debts – a very different story from Elba’s survival adventure with his daughters in the jungle.

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2026-04-11 22:20