The Denzel Washington Netflix Crime Thriller Users Watched For Almost 8 Million Hours Is Leaving Streaming

Safe House follows junior CIA officer Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds), whose routine assignment as a “housekeeper” in charge of a local CIA safe house in Cape Town, South Africa, takes an unexpected turn.

Weston’s aspirations for a more challenging role are thwarted by his mentor, David Barlow (Brendan Gleeson), leaving him frustrated and eager for field experience.

The plot thickens when ex-CIA operative Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington) resurfaces as an international criminal. Frost acquires a critical data storage device, setting off a chain of events that leads him to surrender to the American consulate.

A team led by veteran operative Daniel Kiefer (Robert Patrick) transfers Frost to Weston’s safe house for interrogation.

As Weston reluctantly watches Kiefer’s team use brutal methods to get answers, mercenaries led by Vargas launch a deadly assault, leaving Weston with no choice but to escape with Frost.

The junior officer soon finds himself entangled in a web of deception as Frost begins to manipulate him, suggesting a mole within the CIA tipped off the mercenaries.

Safe House takes viewers on a thrilling journey through the vibrant streets of Cape Town as Weston and Frost evade their pursuers. Weston struggles with loyalty to the agency and suspicions of corruption within its ranks.

The relationship between Weston and Frost becomes central to the story, with Frost’s backstory shedding light on the moral ambiguity of the intelligence world.

Safe House skillfully blends espionage with personal drama as Weston reaches out to his girlfriend, Ana (Nora Arnezeder), to protect her from the escalating danger.

The tension builds as Weston pursues Frost while discovering a conspiracy involving corruption and bribery implicating multiple intelligence agencies.

The climax at the new safe house reveals the contents of the storage device and the true orchestrator of the conspiracy. The film leaves audiences on the edge of their seats as Weston makes a decision that will not only define his career but also affect the intelligence community. 

Safe House not only entertains but also prompts the audience to reflect on the complexities of morality, loyalty, and the pursuit of justice.

The screenplay for Safe House was written by David Guggenheim, and Daniel Espinosa directed the film.

The movie’s fast-paced action and suspenseful plot were key elements in its development, and the dynamic between Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds added depth to the characters. As such, the movie received generally positive reactions from audiences.

Critical reviews were mixed, with some praising Safe House’s energy and performances while others criticized it for following genre conventions.

The movie currently holds a 53 percent critics rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes alongside a 63 percent audience score. Despite its detractors, the film performed well at the box office, earning $126.4 million in the United States.

Safe House earned an additional $81.7 million in other territories, resulting in worldwide revenue of $208.1 million against a budget of around $85 million.

The film raked in $13.6 million during its opening weekend, securing the second spot, with The Vow taking the lead. This marked the second-highest opening for Denzel Washington, following American Gangster with $43.6 million.

Safe House was the third-best for Ryan Reynolds, trailing behind X-Men Origins: Wolverine with $85.1 million and Green Lantern with $53.2 million. In its second weekend, the movie claimed the top spot, earning an impressive $23.6 million. The film also became the second release of 2012 to surpass the $100 million mark domestically.

The film’s financial takings can be attributed to the star power of Washington and the marketability of the action thriller genre.

Its title, Safe House, refers to the secure location where intelligence agencies can protect and interrogate high-value targets away from the public eye. Denzel Washington performed many of his own stunts in the film, showcasing his dedication to the action sequences.

Safe Houseis a gripping action thriller that fans of the genre will love. It’s definitely worth checking out before it leaves Netflix in a few weeks.