Released on Netflix in 2022, The Gray Man is an action thriller directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. It stars Ryan Gosling as Sierra Six, an assassin in the CIA’s elite black ops Sierra program. Unlike other programs in various agencies of the United States, Six’s position in the Sierra program exists in the gray, hence the title of the film. He might work as an operative in the U.S., but if he makes one wrong move, he’s on his own. Recruited by a senior CIA official named Donald Fitzroy (Billy Bob Thornton) while serving a lifetime prison sentence for killing his abusive father when he was a minor, Six is by far the best asset to come out of the program. However, that doesn’t mean he’s highly viewed as such by everyone else in the CIA, particularly a corrupt CIA official named Denny Carmichael (Regé-Jean Page).
When a mission goes awry and Six discovers Carmichael’s corrupt dealings, Six is forced to go off the grid after a global manhunt ensues. Rife with action and plenty of humor, The Gray Man immediately shot to the top of Netflix’s most-watched movies and remains one of the most popular movies on the platform. That being said, critics didn’t love the film. In fact, upon its release, Gosling’s action flick was met with rather disappointing reviews. With a Tomatometer score of 45% and a Popcornmeter score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s clear that critics and audiences have vastly different views on the film. All things considered, 90% is rather high for such a film, but that doesn’t mean critics were right about it either.
‘The Gray Man’ Is a Fun Popcorn Movie

And That’s Not a Bad Thing

As is the case with many action films, their first goal is to be entertaining. The Gray Man clearly falls into such a category. It’s a fun popcorn flick that doesn’t take itself too seriously despite its occasional serious situations. Unlike a movie such as 2020’s Extraction and its 2023 sequel, which were both written by Joe Russo, The Gray Man’s characters aren’t necessarily tortured individuals. Sure, Six has quite a harrowing past, but it doesn’t actually negatively affect his current situation. If anything, it’s made him that much cooler.

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The Gray Man isn’t a gritty action film. Rather, it’s stylized and fun, and that’s not a bad thing. It explains why viewers flocked to the film as soon as it landed on Netflix. Its plot isn’t overly complicated, which makes it an easy and enjoyable film to watch on any given movie night. While 90% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter is certainly pretty high for such a film, it’s easy to see why audiences loved it so much despite what critics had to say about it. Sometimes all a movie needs to be is fun, and that’s not a bad thing. When viewers then consider The Gray Man’s cast, it’s no wonder the movie is still one of Netflix’s most popular films.
Audiences Love ‘The Gray Man’s Entertaining Cast

But Critics Can’t Get Over the Action Tropes

One of the best aspects of The Gray Man is its entertaining cast. With Ryan Gosling at the helm, it’s already a winner. Then, with Chris Evans and Billy Bob Thorton thrown into the mix, it’s hard not to be allured by their wit and humor onscreen. However, critics were unable to look past what they believed were too many action tropes that ultimately left the film feeling a bit stale for them. While The Gray Man certainly doesn’t reinvent the action wheel, it doesn’t purport to be anything deeper than what viewers see on the surface.
Sure, there are plenty of situations in The Gray Man that are rather farfetched. However, isn’t that the case with almost every action film? That doesn’t mean the movie is a bad one. The Russo brothers didn’t aim to make a realistic and gritty action thriller, they sought to make an entertaining action movie that looks good. Thanks to its stellar cast, the film balances amazing action sequences with humor in a way that resonates with viewers.

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Nonetheless, critics didn’t care much for The Gray Man because they felt the movie relied on too many action tropes to propel its story forward, ultimately leaving them extremely underwhelmed. With a Tomatometer score of 45%, it sits in stark contrast to what audiences thought of Gosling’s film. While audiences might have rated the film a bit too high, The Gray Man’s amazing cast makes the fun popcorn film an enjoyable viewing experience. Those components of the movie shouldn’t be considered negative. Sometimes, all viewers want is a bit of surface-level fun and entertaining action. The Gray Man is currently streaming on Netflix.