Four Yahya Abdul-Mateen II movies to watch on Netflix
It has been nearly a week since Yahya Abdul-Mateen II graced Netflix screens in the latest adaptation of AJ Quinnell’s Man on Fire. But neither the craze for the series nor the star appeal of the actor has faded even a little bit in the time frame.
The Emmy winner stars as former Special Forces Mercenary John Creasy in the action-packed seven-episode series, now flattened by severe PTSD, who’s forced to spring back into action to protect the daughter of an old friend.
While Abdul-Mateen is no stranger to such action profiles, having excelled in portraying superheroes, supervillains, and historical figures alike.
So, in case Man on Fire leaves you craving for more, here are four Yahya Abdul-Mateen II movies to follow up with on Netflix.
Four Yahya Abdul-Mateen II currently streaming on Netflix
Ambulance (Michael Bay, 2022)
Serving as the remake of the 2005 Danish movie, Ambulance is an action thriller film that stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Jake Gyllenhaal as adoptive brothers Will Sharp, a desperate veteran and Danny, a career criminal, who hijack an ambulance after a bank heist goes wrong. The plot kicks off when Sharp desperately seeks money for his wife’s surgery, when denied insurance coverage, ultimately turning to Danny, who convinces him to join a bank robbery.
Contrary to their plans, the robbery is interrupted when a police officer chimes in, leading to an intense shootout and the death of most of the squad members. In an attempt to escape, the brothers hijack an ambulance, taking an EMT and a critically wounded officer hostage, spiralling into a high-speed chase and an extensively claustrophobic situation.
First Match (Olivia Newman, 2018)
Based on Olivia Newman’s 2010 short film of the same name, First Match follows Monique, hardened by the foster care system, who joins her high school’s all-boys wrestling team to reconnect and reconcile with her newly released, estranged father, Darrel, portrayed by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. While she initially joins the team seeking approval from her ex-wrestler father, she also finds a voice in the process, overcoming her insecurities and scepticism.
But when Darrel faces an immense financial crisis, he turns to exploiting Monique’s talent, forcing her to fight in illegal, adult matches for money, challenging her loyalties. First Match captures her moral dilemma as she’s left with no option but to choose between redefining her faith and saving herself. The movie explores her journey towards self-worth and emotional healing, against the bouts of a fractured domestic life.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Aaron Sorkin, 2020)
The next pick on the list is undoubtedly the historical war drama, The Trial of the Chicago 7, which follows the 1969 federal trial of eight anti-Vietnam War activists, charged by the Nixon administration with conspiracy and inciting a riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The film traces back how activists from different groups were charged with crossing state lines to incite violence.
The group was initially eight, which included Black Panther co-founder Bobby Seale, portrayed by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. However, due to his disruptive trial, his case was declared a mistrial. The Trial of the Chicago 7 highlights the ideological differences of the activists in question while showcasing their unified fight against state power, exploring themes of freedom of speech, police brutality, and government overreach.
All Day and a Night (Joe Robert Cole, 2020)
Lastly, to end the Yahya Abdul-Mateen II marathon on Netflix, we have All Day and a Night, a gritty crime drama that follows aspiring rapper Jahkor Abraham Lincoln in Oakland, sentenced to life imprisonment for a double homicide. The film opens with the double homicide, and through flashbacks, we learn about his moral predicament of avoiding becoming his abusive father.
But when Jahkor falls into the same lifestyle as his father’s, in an attempt to get his life back on track for the sake of his newborn son, he agrees to work for Big Stunna, played by Abdul-Mateen, only to slowly see his life slipping right in front of him. All Day and a Night explores the generational trauma that permeates the characterisation and how systemic pressure simultaneously becomes a hellhole for those already trapped. So, in case you’re yet to catch up with either of the four, do it now on Netflix!