The Gray Man Review: A Thrilling Netflix Action Movie

The Gray Man, a Netflix original directed by the Russo Brothers, is a nonstop action film based on Mark Greaney’s bestselling thriller series. Ryan Gosling stars as Sierra Six, a CIA black ops assassin turned fugitive. I watched it twice in its first week. I can’t remember the last time I finished a movie and immediately rewatched it. The Gray Man was that good—tight, stylish, and rewatchable without fatigue.

The Russo Brothers, known for Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, brought their signature pacing and scale to this project. Their direction here is solid and intentional, though I understand why some might call it rushed. The film moves fast—sometimes too fast—but it never loses its pulse. The script, co-written by Joe Russo, Christopher Markus, and Stephen McFeely, has been criticized for being cliché. But clichés aren’t always failures. The dialogue is witty, sparse, and functional. It moves the story forward in two distinct intervals, and if you miss a line, you might lose your place. That kind of precision is easy to botch. Here, it works.

Ryan Gosling was cast perfectly. I wouldn’t have imagined him as Sierra Six, but now I can’t picture anyone else. His performance is restrained, physical, and quietly charismatic. Chris Evans, on the other hand, felt more like shock value. Maybe he was perfect, and I just couldn’t get past the mustache. His portrayal of Lloyd Hansen—a sociopathic ex-CIA mercenary—was divisive, but undeniably bold.

The supporting cast includes Ana de Armas, Jessica Henwick, Regé-Jean Page, Wagner Moura, Julia Butters, Dhanush, Alfre Woodard, and Billy Bob Thornton. It’s a stacked lineup, and the ensemble chemistry adds depth to the chaos. Critics were mixed. The film holds a 45% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 49 on Metacritic. One of the shortcomings of our current culture is that “critic” has become synonymous with “anyone with a smartphone.” Too often, people trash a film just to spark viral outrage. The Gray Man deserves better.

If you watched it and didn’t like it, I suggest watching it again—with no motive but to enjoy it. Let the story unfold. Let the action hit. It’s not wasted time.