Netflix Users Must Stream The Best Sci-Fi Action Thriller In Years Before It’s Gone

Dredd, like 1995’s Judge Dredd, is based on the 2000 AD comic strip of the same name. But it’s worth noting that the 2012 film we’re celebrating is not a sequel and doesn’t pick up where the Sylvester Stallone film left off. It’s a unique reimagining of the classic intellectual property that takes on a life of its own with its dark tone and updated filming techniques.

Set in the year 2080, Dredd centers on its titular character (Karl Urban), who acts as judge, jury, and executioner in his efforts to apprehend criminals in Mega-City One. The dystopian city has an unthinkable population of 800 million residents, and 17,000 crimes are committed daily. Using brute force and delivering judgment with an expressionless face and gravelly voice, Dredd’s job requires a monolithic amount of manpower and a distinct lack of emotion to stop crime with an extreme lack of prejudice.

Dredd’s central conflict comes in the form of a powerful drug called Slo-Mo that alters its subject’s perception of time to one percent of its normal speed. Drug lord Madeline “Ma-Ma” Madrigal, who resides on the 200th floor of a seemingly unbreachable slum tower called Peach Trees, is the primary antagonist. Dredd is tasked with bringing her to justice and restoring order to the violent metropolis by any means necessary.

As Dredd and his team embark on their journey toward the top floor of the Peach Trees tower, they’re met with a deluge of violent assaults carried out by armed thugs under Ma-Ma’s command. Facing rotary cannons, impenetrable security measures, and corrupt judges who have decided to embrace a world of crime rather than mitigate it, Dredd and his partner, Anderson, have to overcome the impossible to bring Ma-Ma and her henchmen to justice.

Though Dredd‘s 3D production was ambitious, the distribution model during its theatrical run ultimately led to its undoing at the box office. Those in the UK who would have preferred to watch its 2D counterpart didn’t have a chance to do so because cinema requests for this format were not fulfilled, severely limiting the number of screenings in theaters. By the time its theatrical run concluded, Dredd only earned $41.5 million against its reported budget of $45 million at the box office, making it a commercial failure.

Despite its less-than-desirable commercial performance, Dredd was well-received by critics, garnering an 80 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes. Karl Urban‘s portrayal of Dredd was universally praised, and critics were quick to point out how well he conveyed emotion even though most of his face was covered with a helmet. It was also noted that the film’s gritty, B-movie style was propped up by its unique special effects and deadpan humor.

If you want to watch Dredd on Netflix, now is the time to do so because it will only be available until February 29 before it leaves the platform. Whether viewing the film marks your first time taking a violent stroll through Mega-City One, or you just want to get your fill before seeking out a physical copy for repeat watches, your time to raid the Peach Trees tower is running out.