Under the blazing desert sun, where justice bleeds into vengeance, Dolph Lundgren makes a fierce return in Netflix’s new action thriller Wanted Man. This gritty, border-set story blends neo-western tension with old-school action, following a disgraced cop forced to confront his own demons on foreign soil. Directed by and starring Lundgren, Wanted Man is a hard-hitting tale of loyalty, corruption, and survival in a world where every choice comes at a cost. The trailer is at the end of the article.
Lundgren stars as Detective Travis Johansen, a battle-worn officer sent to Mexico to escort a witness after DEA agents are gunned down. What begins as a simple assignment turns deadly, trapping him between rival forces and blurring the lines between duty and guilt. As bullets fly and alliances crumble, Johansen realizes the real fight isn’t just for justice — it’s for his own redemption.
Behind the camera, Lundgren’s direction brings a raw, muscular energy rarely seen in today’s slick action cinema. The film’s sun-drenched cinematography and weathered landscapes evoke the spirit of a border-noir western, capturing both the heat of violence and the chill of regret. Every shot feels deliberate, every silence heavy — reminding viewers that sometimes the most powerful battles happen inside the man holding the gun..
Lundgren’s own performance anchors the story: weary, wounded, but still dangerous. Alongside him, Christina Villa, Kelsey Grammer, and Michael Paré round out a cast that keeps the human tension simmering beneath the gunfire. There’s cynicism here, but also a sense of redemption — a recognition that even the most hardened men can’t outrun the ghosts of their choices.
Critics were divided, noting that Wanted Man sometimes falters in pacing but gains power from Dolph Lundgren’s grounded direction and raw physical presence. Some described it as “an unexpectedly sober, even melancholic, action film” — a sharp contrast to the hyper-stylized thrillers dominating today’s market. What stood out most was its restraint: the silences between gunshots, the dust, the weariness in Lundgren’s eyes. Viewers appreciated that this was an action film about consequence, not just carnage, with emotion replacing excess. Several reviewers praised its stripped-down realism, calling it a rare throwback that trusts mood over mayhem. In an era of visual overload, Wanted Man proves that old-school muscle and moral weight can still hit hardest.
For American viewers, Wanted Man is now streaming on Netflix USA (added November 10, 2025). In the United Kingdom, however, the film is not on Netflix — it’s streaming on Paramount+ (available since 2024). A bruised, old-school action drama with a moral hangover — Wanted Man reminds us that even heroes have expiration dates. For more adrenaline and grit, explore our latest thrillers.
- Original title: Wanted Man
- Genre: Action thriller
- Country of production: United States
- Year of release: 2024
- Directed by: Dolph Lundgren
- Main cast: Dolph Lundgren, Kelsey Grammer, Christina Villa, Michael Paré
- Produced by: Dolph Lundgren, Ryan Caruso, Corey Large
- Release date on Netflix USA: November 10, 2025
- Release date on Netflix UK: Not available on Netflix UK (streaming on Paramount+)
► WATCH ON NETFLIX (USA): Official Netflix page
► WATCH ON PARAMOUNT+ (UK): Official Paramount+ UK
In the meantime, enjoy the trailer below.
