Netflix critics hail thriller 'best Christmas movie of the year'

A new Netflix film inspired by Die Hard has arrived on the platform just in time for Christmas, and critics are thrilled.

Carry-On, is a new '10/10' thriller from The Shallows director Jaume Collet-Serra starring Taron Egerton, 35, and Jason Bateman, 55.

The film sees Taron play a transportation security agent (TSA), who is blackmailed by Jason's character into smuggling dangerous items onboard a flight on Christmas Eve.

Written by TJ Fixman, the film was originally planned to be the first release as part of Netflix's deal with Steven Spielberg's Amblin production company; however, it was delayed due to re-writes of the script.

Carry-On also stars Sofia Carson, 31, Danielle Deadwyler, 42, and Logan Marshall-Green, 48, and has already received strong reviews from critics.

In his review for The Wrap, William Bibbiani said: 'There are about two minutes in that are as exciting as any other action movie this year, and about 100 minutes that are pretty fun too.'

A new Netflix film inspired by Die Hard has arrived on the platform just in time for Christmas, and critics are thrilled (Taron Egerton pictured)

Carry-On, is a new '10/10' thriller from The Shallows director Jaume Collet-Serra starring Taron Egerton, 35, and Jason Bateman, 55 (Jason Bateman pictured)

Pramit Chatterjee in Digital Media Talkies wrote: 'Carry-On is the best Christmas movie of the year.'

Meanwhile, Nick Schager for The Daily Beast added: 'This breakneck Netflix offering confirms the enduring vitality of its chosen formula -- and, in the process, proves an unexpected and welcome Yuletide streaming gift.'

Speaking to the BBC, Collet said that the Bruce Willis classic had inspired the movie, adding: 'Everyone wants to make the next Die Hard and the reality is that no one ever will - it's a perfect movie that can't be replicated, and also a very specific product of its time.'

'But when I read the script for Carry-On, I felt like I had found a more grounded version of Die Hard - which was our North Star for the entire process - for a new generation.'

Over the years, there has been many debates as to whether Die Hard is a Christmas film.

And In 2020, director John McTiernan, 73, addressed the debate in a video for the American Film Institute.

He mentioned that he drew inspiration for the film from the moment in Frank Capra's Christmas classic It's A Wonderful Life when Bedford Falls becomes Pottersville.

He said: 'We hadn't intended it to be a Christmas movie, but the joy that came from it is what turned it into a Christmas movie.'

The film sees Taron play a transportation security agent (TSA), who is blackmailed by Jason's character into smuggling dangerous items onboard a flight on Christmas Eve

Carry-On also stars Sofia Carson, 31, (pictured) Danielle Deadwyler, 42, and Logan Marshall-Green, 48, and has already received strong reviews from critics

It's been quite a busy year for Netflix as it was recently revealed that two British Netflix series were in the top 10 most searched terms in the UK in 2024.

One series is Fool Me Once, a thriller adapted by Danny Brocklehurst from Harlan Coben's 2016 novel of the same name.

It features a star-studded cast including Michelle Keegan, 37; Adeel Akhtar, 44; Dino Fetscher, 36; Richard Armitage, 53; and Joanna Lumley, 78.

The show premiered in January and as of March 31, it is the seventh most-viewed English Netflix series to date.

Meanwhile, another popular series is Baby Reindeeer, drama based on a struggling comedian who shows one act of kindness to a vulnerable woman. However, it sparks a suffocating obsession which threatens to wreck both their lives.

The miniseries was released on Netflix in April, and since its release, it has gone on to win six Primetime Emmy Awards.

Fool Me Once ranked second on the top 10 most searched terms in the UK while Baby Reindeer beat it to the punch by placing first.

Within its first week, Fool Me Once starring Coronation Street's Michelle was watched by over 37.1 million Netflix accounts with over 238 million hours watched; one of the largest debuts of Netflix.

All eight episodes appeared in the BARB top 50 most-viewed programmes of the week; with the opening episode attracting 6.34 million viewers.

And during the National Television Awards, Michelle was nominated for Drama Performance while the show was nominated for New Drama.

The series follows Maya (Michelle) a mother trying to come to terms with the brutal murder of her husband Joe.

However, she gets quite the shock when she sees her husband on her new nanny cam which she installed to keep an eye on her daughter.

It's been quite a busy year for Netflix as it was recently revealed that two British Netflix series were in the top 10 most searched terms in the UK in 2024 (Michelle Keegan pictured in Fool Me Once)

Fool Me Once ranked second on the top 10 most searched terms in the UK while Baby Reindeer beat it to the punch by placing first (Richard and Jessica Gunning pictured)

Meanwhille,Baby Reindeer, which was created by Richard Gadd, 35,debuted at number five on Netflix's top 10 TV English titles at the beginning of April, with 10.4 million hours viewed.

Then on the following week,the series climbed to number one garnering 52.8 million viewing hours.

The series received critical acclaim on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, with 98% of 58 critics giving the series a positive review.

The series follows Donny's warped relationship with a female stalker named Martha and the impact it has on him as he is ultimately forced to face a deep,dark buried trauma.

The show which was directed by Weronika Tofilska,39,and Josephine Bornebusch,43;features a star-studded cast including Jessica Gunning,38;Nina Sosanya,55;and Nava Mau,32.

Carry-On - What the critics said