(Credit: 20th Century Fox)

Denzel Washington is not just an actor; he is an entire mood on his own. Scroll through Netflix on any given week, and chances are one of his films is climbing the charts.

And it does not have to be a new release every time. Sometimes, films from twenty years ago rank in the Top 10 charts on Netflix. All the audience does is see his name and hit play. That’s exactly what’s happening right now with Man on Fire.

Tony Scott’s searing 2004 action thriller starring Washington has suddenly shot up to number four on Netflix. It’s one of those movies people talk about with the same mix of awe and hushed nostalgia.

For some, it’s a memory of the DVD era, back when you’d stay up way too late to finish it even though you had school the next morning. For others, it’s just one of those films you somehow missed and always meant to catch up on.

What’s Man on Fire about?

The story follows John Creasy, played by Washington, who might just be one of his most layered characters. Creasy is a former CIA operative, burnt out and carrying the weight of a violent past. When he takes a job as a bodyguard in Mexico City, he isn’t looking for redemption… he’s just looking to get through the day.

His assignment? Protect nine-year-old Lupita “Pita” Ramos, the daughter of a wealthy family. At first, he keeps her at arm’s length. He’s distant and cold, the kind of man who seems allergic to kindness. But Pita, played with genuine spark by Dakota Fanning, doesn’t give up on him. Slowly, through small gestures and quiet persistence, she breaks through his shell.

And then comes the shattering twist. Pita is kidnapped, and Creasy’s fragile steps toward healing collapse into rage. The second half of the film transforms into a relentless revenge saga, with Creasy cutting down everyone tied to her disappearance. Corrupt cops, crime bosses, you name it. Anyone who stood in the way is dead. The violence is brutal, yes, but it’s never mindless. It’s driven by the heartbreak of a man who found something to live for again, only to have it slip away.

Why is it back on Netflix’s top 10 now?

Nostalgia plays a big part. Viewers love revisiting movies that shaped their early 2000s DVD shelf, and Man on Fire has that exact energy. Word-of-mouth helps too: once one person re-watches it, they remind their friends just how good it is. And then, of course, there’s Netflix’s algorithm.

But there’s also another reason it’s trending: timing. Netflix is currently developing a Man on Fire series of its own, based on A.J. Quinnell’s novels that inspired both the 2004 movie and earlier adaptations. The new version will star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as John Creasy, with Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II) set to direct the opening episodes. So streaming the original right now feels a bit like a refresher course before the new chapter begins.

And that’s the magic of Denzel Washington’s legacy on Netflix. His films don’t just get watched; they get rediscovered. Man on Fire is proof of that. Two decades later, audiences are still fascinated by a story that mixes heart and heartbreak.