Just arrived on Netflix and already sweeping as the most watched: an exciting spy thriller in the style of James Bond
The movie is directed by Matthew Vaughn and it was quite a phenomenon when it premiered in theaters ten years ago.
12 August, 2024 12:43With permission from James Bond movies, the arrival of Kingsman to theaters was a revolution for the spy genre. Perhaps it was partly due to being a decent alternative to spy movies or simply because it is a very entertaining film suitable for all audiences, but the truth is that its success is justified.
In fact, the phenomenon has been such that ten years after its theatrical release, the first film of what is now a franchise has just premiered on Netflix and has already become one of the most-watched titles on the platform.
We follow an English veteran secret agent (Colin Firth) who must train a rough young man (Taron Egerton). The latter may not seem like it, but he promises to become a competitive agent thanks to an ultra-training program, while a global threat emerges from a twisted genius.
The first installment of the Kingsman saga was very well-received by the audience when it was released in 2014, because although that was a great year for movie lovers, most of the productions were very dark and depressing. In fact, after Christopher Nolan's phenomenon with The Dark Knight, many appreciated a certain contrast with Guardians of the Galaxy or Kingsman: The Secret Service.
Vaughn's film was an antidote to all those big-budget films that take themselves too seriously and was welcomed as a turning point full of comedic nods and a great action story.
In addition to all of the above, Kingsman: The Secret Service is a film that was able to surprise its audience at every moment and throughout its runtime. A quality that was difficult to maintain in the sequels and prequels that followed.
And, as if that weren't enough, the film also has a great villain, several truly impressive scenes, and protagonists with an emotional bond that transcends the screen.
Although it is a film that deconstructs the spy movie genre, Kingsman: The Secret Service does not become a parody of it, and this is because it has a great duo of protagonists at the center of the story. The pair formed by Harry and Eggsy is endearing, and the chemistry between Colin Firth and Taron Egerton as mentor and pupil helped make this dynamic memorable.
All these ingredients are what made Kingsman: The Secret Service a success, but also what elevates it to the top rank of Netflix ten years later.
Details
- Original title: 'Kingsman: The Secret Service'
- Where to watch: Netflix and Disney+
- Duration: 129 minutes
- Production year: 2014
- Written by: Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman (Based on the comic by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons)
- Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
- Cast: Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong, Mark Hamill, Michael Caine, Jack Davenport, Sofia Boutella, Corey Johnson, Sophie Cookson, Hanna Alström, Velibor Topic
*This article has been automatically translated using artificial intelligence