Netflix’s Man on Fire Blazes Past 23 Million Views

Netflix has a new winner, and it‘s packing heat. The action series Man on Fire dropped at the end of April and basically grabbed Netflix by the collar – and still isn‘t letting go. If you‘ve been browsing your TV lately and seeing the preview pop up everywhere, there‘s a reason: everyone‘s watching it. Well, maybe not everyone, but a truly ridiculous number of people.

The Numbers Game: Who‘s On Top?

Here‘s how the week of May 4-10 shook out for Netflix‘s worldwide hits. Man on Fire absolutely dominated with 12.6 million views in its second week – that‘s not just good, it‘s category-busting for a new series. Pile that on top of its eye-popping 11 million views from launch week, and you‘ve got 23.6 million in just two weeks. For perspective, nothing else even got close. The runners-up? Way behind:

• Should I Marry a Murderer? (a true crime docuseries): 8 million
• Worst Ex Ever – Season 2: 8 million
• Legends (British crime drama): 3.4 million
• Running Point – Season 2: 3.3 million (and oddly enough, it‘s been hanging on to the list for three weeks now)

Anyone else might be humbled to get even a few million global eyeballs, but Man on Fire is lapping the competition right now. Not bad for what Netflix clearly hopes is its answer to Amazon‘s Reacher.

Backstory: Man on Fire‘s Many Faces

Here‘s where things get interesting: this isn‘t the first, or even the second time Man on Fire has been adapted. The story started as a 1980 crime novel by A.J. Quinnell, then got turned into a movie in 1987 starring Scott Glenn, and most famously, the 2004 Hollywood hit with Denzel Washington. Now, Netflix is giving the concept the long-form treatment, with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stepping in as John Creasy, the special ops vet with way too many demons and a new mission on the blood-soaked streets of Rio de Janeiro.

The twist this time? Netflix actually sticks closer to Quinnell‘s original story than previous versions did, and even reaches into the 1992 sequel novel The Perfect Kill for material. So, if you feel like there are new layers, or some plot detours you didn‘t see in the films, you‘re not wrong – that‘s some deep-cut quinnell lore you‘re watching.

Audiences Are Split

Here‘s the part where critics and viewers can‘t seem to agree on whether Man on Fire is a classic in the making or just another addition to the endless action-thriller landfill. On Rotten Tomatoes, reviews land right down the middle: it‘s sitting at 60% with critics, and a slightly warmer 64% among regular viewers. That tracks with what seems to be the vibe around the show‘s main storyline: a haunted ex-soldier does everything to protect a teenage girl in a city practically built for car chases and shootouts. Man on Fire doesn‘t do much to hide its influences. If you wanted slow-burning drama, this isn‘t it. If you wanted a gritty, globe-hopping revenge fantasy, saddle up.

'There‘s no official word from Netflix about a season two yet. But given the viewership, it‘s almost a question of when, not if.'

What‘s Next? Book Fans, Get Ready

If you‘re the type who wants more, there‘s actually a lot of material left. In addition to The Perfect Kill, the original John Creasy saga includes The Blue Ring, Black Horn, and Message from Hell. By the end of season one, the writers are teeing up more with a scene where Creasy is offered a new job by Director Montcrief (Paul Ben-Victor). Translation: Netflix has plenty of runway for another season (or three), so don‘t be surprised if they double down soon.

For now, all seven episodes are ready to stream, and with numbers like these, it‘d be a shock if Netflix doesn‘t bring Man on Fire back for more. Stay tuned.