Everyone’s Favorite Killer CPA Is Back in ‘Accountant 2’ Trailer

In my 2016 review, I expressed that “The Accountant”, an action movie featuring Ben Affleck as a gifted accountant with hidden fighting skills, was right up my alley due to its amusing blend of elements reminiscent of both “John Wick” and “Good Will Hunting”, where the actors’ roles were swapped between Affleck and Matt Damon.

The original film, “The Accountant,” performed well in cinemas, but truly resonated with audiences on home video and TV. So much so, that eight years later, we’re now seeing a sequel – either titled “The Accountant 2” or, as it appears on screen, “The Accountant Squared.” Isn’t that exciting?

In the upcoming film, Ben Affleck reappears, joined by Jon Bernthal who portrays Affleck’s accountant character’s equally perilous brother. J.K. Simmons is also part of the cast; however, as the trailer for The Accountant 2 unveils, it’s Simmons’ character’s demise that initiates the sequel’s storyline. You can catch a glimpse of it below:

If the title is written as “The Accountant Squared“, it had better be packed with a ton of clever accounting jokes and references in the film.

Here is the sequel’s official synopsis:

The character Christian Wolff, portrayed by Ben Affleck, excels in deciphering intricate puzzles. After an old contact is assassinated and a mysterious note left behind that reads “track down the accountant,” Wolff feels compelled to investigate the murder. As the situation escalates, he enlists his long-lost brother, Brax (Jon Bernthal), who possesses considerable lethality, for assistance. In alliance with U.S. Treasury Deputy Director Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), they delve into a dangerous plot, placing themselves in the crosshairs of a merciless group of assassins determined to keep their dark secrets concealed.

The sequel to “The Accountant,” titled “The Accountant 2,” is scheduled for a theater release on April 25. Since it’s a film produced by Amazon, it’s likely that it will become available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video sometime following its theatrical premiere.

TV Shows We Used to Love That Are Cringe Now

The West Wing (1999-2006)

In discussions about outdated television series that no longer resonate with contemporary audiences, The West Wing is frequently brought up. It’s not because the show was inherently poor or had problematic plots, or provided its actors with embarrassing dialogue (though these issues can occasionally arise). Instead, it was a program that aimed to inspire rather than reflect reality, presenting an idealized version of politics that, given the current political climate in our country, seems unrealistic. The West Wing depicted a nation where wise philosophers held power and always triumphed in moral dilemmas, or if they didn’t, faced consequences later on. Unfortunately, life doesn’t work this way, and revisiting such a show now leaves a sense of emptiness rather than comfort. (And let’s not delve into The Newsroom.)

Entourage (2004-2011)

In the realm of television shows that seem almost unbelievable in today’s context, “Entourage” stands out as a remarkable survivor. As a movie reviewer looking back, I find it hard to grasp how this series about a semi-successful Hollywood celebrity and his entourage thrived not only in existence but also over time. The concept of following a group of showbiz buddies cruising around Los Angeles might seem innocuous, but remember, we’re talking about the latter part of the 2000s – an era brimming with unleashed sexual energy and rapidly advancing technology-driven lifestyles.

Vinny Chase and his friends, once portrayed as epitomes of masculinity in 2004, appear rather grating today. To put it mildly, the sexual politics of “Entourage” are a relic from another era, to say the least. It’s still somewhat enjoyable to watch as a glimpse into the past, but only barely so.

Supernatural (2005-2020)

Is it inherently cheesy for shows to be cringeworthy, or does cringeworthiness develop over time? This is the conundrum faced by the show Supernatural, which, in its initial phases, offered an enjoyable monster-hunting adventure with a rock soundtrack and creative interpretations of Biblical lore. However, it outstayed its welcome by approximately four to five seasons, as its end-of-the-world seasonal arcs became increasingly repetitive, characters frequently died and came back to life in subsequent episodes, and the dynamic between the three main characters turned into a tedious predictability. In its last few episodes, it even managed to give canonical status to the most popular fan-shipped couple in a way that was still perceived as homophobic by many fans. Quite an impressive run!

The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008-2013)

It takes courage to assert that ABC’s teen pregnancy soap opera titled “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” was always painful to watch, yet incredibly popular it was. With a title reminiscent of a scaremongering public service announcement from the 1970s, one might expect the show to offer insightful commentary on today’s youth, but instead, it became a fairly traditional high school drama with a rather conservative perspective on teen pregnancy (keep the baby, find a husband, start a family, etc.). The dialogue is so poor that searching for “secret life cringe” produces numerous results, one of which includes this truly regrettable exchange of words.

Glee (2009-2015)

In a different phrasing,

The TV show Glee often made viewers feel secondhand embarrassment due to its over-the-top nature, teetering between being genuinely bad and so awful it became entertaining, like a car accident you can’t help but watch. Ryan Murphy, the creator, seems to follow this “I can’t believe I’m seeing this” approach with Glee. While The Secret Life was too conventional for its vague commentaries on teen life to be engaging, Glee took it a step further by being excessively outrageous, concocting bizarre plots that became more absurd with each episode. Each character in the show is either underdeveloped or overloaded, and their covers and mixes of popular songs often feel grating, making us wish for something else to watch instead. A performance of “Blurred Lines” led by a school faculty member is just one of many questionable decisions made on Glee.

Sherlock (2010-2017)

The television series “Sherlock” has a significant divide between those who adored it initially and those who now find it unappealing, for numerous reasons. Upon its premiere, it was extremely popular and catapulted its leading actor, Benedict Cumberbatch, into international stardom. The combination of classic tales reimagined for contemporary audiences resonated with viewers seeking a more creative mystery series than the usual police procedurals available elsewhere. However, due to only three lengthy episodes being released every two or three years, the show may have grown too grandiose, leaving fans who cherished the early episodes feeling disconnected by the time it reached its later seasons. Many of us recall the moment when the “mind palace” scene transitioned from brilliant to mundane.

Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

A popular series like “Game of Thrones” received widespread acclaim during its premiere but faced criticism towards the end. Transitioning from admiration to cringeworthy moments, it moved too quickly from being loved to causing discomfort before its conclusion. Despite this, we firmly believe that the show was still excellent, even exceptional – up until a certain point. After that point, the decline in quality was significant.

The series demanded much from its viewers, asking them to remember fictional titles and places, as well as keeping track of numerous complex plots within each episode. Over time, this became tiresome, particularly during the final stages when the show was approaching its climax and killing off beloved characters, with each death seeming increasingly undeserved.

Nowadays, when someone claims to be a fan, they often feel compelled to specify “of the earlier seasons,” in order to avoid heated debates that could rival the battles of the Dothraki warriors.

House of Cards (2013-2018)

It might be overly simplistic to state that a series with a terminated main actor makes it “poor now,” but we’d argue that House of Cards wasn’t particularly exceptional from the start. As one of Netflix’s pioneering original shows, the program was marketed as intelligent political drama, akin to The West Wing but with a ruthless edge, chronicling the Machiavellian schemes of a manipulative congressman and his ruthlessly ambitious wife on their path to the White House. Initially, the show’s breaking of the fourth wall was intriguing and innovative. However, as time progressed, the escalating one-upmanship in its season finales became monotonous and uninteresting, causing many viewers to lose interest, primarily due to the series’ awkward handling of its lead actor’s public controversy.

Orange Is the New Black (2013-2019)

Similar to how the appeal of “House of Cards” dwindled before its conclusion, so too did the enthusiasm for “Orange Is the New Black.” Initially, it captivated audiences with its unique blend of prison drama and dark comedy, set within a women’s correctional facility, boasting a diverse cast and an intricate web of storylines that hinted at numerous seasons filled with suspense and excitement. However, one major issue was the consistent focus on the least engaging character in each scene. This flaw became particularly evident in the main character, who even die-hard fans agreed was the most uninteresting on “OITNB,” yet consistently received the majority of screen time. After two or three seasons of this, many viewers found themselves questioning their continued investment, and today it serves as a cautionary tale about missteps when planning subsequent seasons for a highly successful series.

The Mandalorian (2019-2023)

The popular series “The Mandalorian” and its spin-offs are often criticized for damaging the credibility of the Volume, an innovative video wall soundstage used to film scenes with digital backdrops in sync with camera movements. Initially, the first season of the show presented a stylish, Western-inspired “Star Wars” tale about a solitary gunfighter traversing a harsh desert world. However, subsequent seasons diluted this concept by excessively incorporating unnecessary lore that viewers found uninteresting. The production suffered from poor effects and muddled landscapes that failed to live up to the potential of the groundbreaking technology employed by the filmmakers. By the time its final season ended, viewership had significantly decreased, marking a steep decline for what was once an intriguing concept.

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2025-02-13 19:26