Movie · 2020 · Action, Fantasy · 2h 5m · R · English
Curator score: 3.2/10 (450.6K ratings)
Forever is harder than it looks.
Overview
Four undying warriors who've secretly protected humanity for centuries become targeted for their mysterious powers just as they discover a new immortal.
Ratings
Curator score: 3.2/10
IMDb: 6.7/10
Letterboxd: 3.06/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
Metacritic: 70
TMDB: 7.1/10
Director
Gina Prince-Bythewood
Production
Skydance Media, Denver & Delilah Productions, Marc Evans Productions
Cast
Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Veronica Ngô, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Harry Melling, Natacha Karam, Anamaria Marinca, Joey Ansah, Adam Collins, Russell Balogh, Obie Matthew, Mette, Micheal Ward, Shala Nyx, Majid Essaidi, Andrei Zayats, Olivia Ross
Where to watch
Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A slick, easy-to-digest immortal-mercenary action fantasy with a strong star turn and a genuinely appealing queer-romantic undercurrent, but it’s held back by a familiar plot and action that rarely rises above serviceable. If you want a charismatic ensemble and a world with sequel potential, it works; if you need inventive set pieces or deeper mythology, it may feel undercooked.
Best for
fans of Charlize Theron action vehicles
viewers who like found-family team dynamics
audiences looking for queer representation in genre action
people who enjoy comic-book-style immortality premises
streaming-night action fans who don't mind formula
Skip if
you want tightly choreographed, standout action scenes
you’re tired of mercenary-versus-corporate-conspiracy plots
you prefer fantasy worlds with richer rules and lore
you need a film that fully commits to its most interesting historical flashbacks
Overview
The Old Guard has a clean, crowd-pleasing premise: immortal warriors, centuries of baggage, and a new recruit who changes the balance of the team. Charlize Theron gives it real authority, and the movie’s best asset is the chemistry between the core group, especially when the script leans into loyalty, grief, and the strange intimacy of endless life.
Worth noting
What keeps it from becoming essential is that the movie often settles for familiar beats. The villainy is generic, the modern-day conspiracy material is routine, and the action, while competent, rarely feels as sharp or as brutal as the concept promises. It’s the kind of film where you can feel a better, wilder version hovering just offscreen.
Bottom line
Still, there’s enough style, sincerity, and representation to make it worth a look, especially if you’re in the mood for a polished streaming action movie with a romantic streak and a strong lead performance. It’s more enjoyable than it is memorable, but it knows exactly which audience it’s trying to serve.
Top Letterboxd reviews
demi adejuyigbe · 2979 likes
In a week, somebody will ask me if I watched “that Netflix movie The Old Guard” and I will confidently and without malice say “No, I don’t think I know what that is.”
Lucy (2.5★) · 1896 likes
the absolute shock i experienced half way through this when michael suddenly paused it and shouted that the villain was dudley dursley
Bert 💀 (3★) · 1785 likes
Joe and Nicky being immortal soulmates is the most romantic shit I've ever seen.
Patrick Willems (3.5★) · 1522 likes
Pretty sure now that every Charlize Theron movie would be improved if she had an axe
alec 🇵🇸 (3★) · 1258 likes
charlize theron serving lesbians once again with that haircut
1986 · Adventure, Action, Fantasy · 1h 56m · R · Curator 3.2/10 (271.4K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Peacock Premium, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus
The classic immortal-warrior premise, mixing melancholy, romance, and centuries-spanning conflict.