(Credits: Netflix)

Superheroes are a timeless symbol of justice and power. And no matter which period you belong to, they never run out of style. Five years ago, Netflix caused a stir with The Old Guard, starring Charlize Theron. And now, the streaming frenzy is back again. A new wave of enthusiasm has struck viewers. The Old Guard is back dominating the charts, and tradition holds that the resurgence is not without reason.

Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, The Old Guard is a 2020 superhero film based on Greg Rucka’s comic book series. The film quietly sneaked into the top ten global weekly Netflix charts of English movies. But since its landing, the clamour has been loud enough to attract even more viewers. The Old Guard is positioned ninth on the Netflix chart. This week, it has garnered 3.2million views alone from 6.7million hours of viewing.

The superhero flick follows a group of immortal mercenaries, Andy, Booker, Joe, Nicky, and Nile, whose regenerative healing abilities make them prey to evil forces. Following the release of The Old Guard, critics and audience wasted no time showering praises for Theron’s incredible delivery and the stunning action sequences. But the question is: why is it back on the charts after five years of silence? What broke the ice?

The factor that has most essentially triggered the surge in viewership is the latest release of its sequel, The Old Guard 2. It’s likely that fans have been rewatching The Old Guard to refresh their memory for the sequel, which was recently released on Netflix on July 2nd, 2025. It’s just as possible that those uninitiated with the original have been redirected to the 2020 film following the premiere of the latest entry.

Directed by Victoria Mahoney, The Old Guard 2 brings back the undead warriors from the original. But this time, the film has upgraded the action criteria to push boundaries. Moreover, the graphic novel already had a cult following. So, the sequel serves anticipation on multiple radars, including both old and new viewers and readers.

In The Old Guard 2, Booker remains in banishment after his betrayal in the original film, Andy tries to come to terms with her newfound mortality, while Quynh sets off for revenge following her escape from the underwater iron maiden. But to redefine the sequel’s standard, Netflix roped in the queen of Kill Bill films, Uma Thurman, and The Gentlemen star, Henry Golding.

With The Old Guard securing its place on the Netflix charts, it’s a clear signal that adversaries should keep an eye out. The Old Guard 2 is not too far down the line.