The decade’s most underrated action movie is a Tom Hardy thriller on Netflix
The partnership between Tom Hardy and director Gareth Evans has given viewers one of Netflix’s most ferocious action films in recent years.
Hardy stars as detective Patrick Walker, an embattled cop drawn deep into a criminal underworld after being tasked by a corrupt politician, played by Forest Whitaker, with rescuing his estranged son from a deadly tangle of gangsters and dirty police. Within minutes, viewers are plunged into high-octane chases and savage close-quarters fights—exactly what you’d expect from the man behind The Raid.
The plot wastes no time setting up Walker as a battered but determined anti-hero, taking on ruthless Triad mobsters and a crew of double-crossing narcotics officers, led by Timothy Olyphant’s Vincent. The story barrels ahead through a string of blistering gunfights, desperate pursuit through rain-soaked city streets, and enough broken furniture to keep the local B&Q in business. Hardy—who also produced the film—throws himself into the physically punishing role, and Evans keeps the action relentless over a brisk 107 minutes.
- Tom Hardy — Patrick Walker, a battle-scarred homicide detective
- Forest Whitaker — Lawrence Beaumont, a corrupt local politician
- Justin Cornwell — Charlie, Beaumont’s son
- Quelin Sepulveda — Mia, Charlie’s girlfriend
- Timothy Olyphant — Vincent, leader of the corrupt narcotics squad
Released in April 2025, Havoc quickly became a streaming juggernaut, notching up around 30 million views and 53 million hours watched. Critical response was solid, landing the film a 64% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. For those keeping score at home, that’s a higher body count than John Wick and far less time wasted on knowing one-liners—the film trades in pure, breathless mayhem.
"Definitely a hell of a lot of intrigue about what happens next with Walker’s journey."
While Netflix hasn’t officially confirmed a sequel, both Evans and Hardy have openly floated the idea. Evans has hinted that there’s plenty more to explore with Walker’s character, and Hardy is reportedly keen to film a follow-up set in Barry Island, Wales—a nod to Evans’ roots. For now, fans can only speculate whether the creative team will be able to top standout sequences like the savage nightclub showdown and a grisly fishing shack climax, both of which set a new benchmark in on-screen brutality.