(Credits: Netflix)

Not everyone has welcomed the upswing of on-demand entertainment in Hollywood. The digital age is basically a paradox of progress, where benefits and drawbacks co-exist. But the question is: are the benefits not worth navigating the complexities? Well, if Netflix were to answer, it would probably be a yes. Amid the streaming era of fleeting hits, Netflix has struck gold with its French-language action flick, K.O., which has officially snatched the ladder from every competitor.

K.O. is currently the number one non-English movie reigning atop the global top ten movies chart on Netflix. The Antoine Blossier-directed film has amassed 7.8million views this week alone, having spent three weeks on the top ten charts. Additionally, K.O. is a top ten movie across 76 countries this week, meaning the film is officially a Netflix favourite by numbers, reputation, and impression. The French crime-action-drama film was released on Netflix on June 6th, 2025.

One of the most gripping factors of the Netflix film is that it stars the real-life MMA fighter Ciryl Gane as a former MMA fighter, Bastein. And the fact that no other title has come close enough to topple K.O. from the throne says a lot about the hold it has over the audience. Last week, too, K.O. was dominating the Netflix charts above everyone else. This week, it has amassed 9.9million hours of viewing, leaving movies like Our Times, Semi-Soeter, and Latin Blood: The Ballad of Ney Matogrosso behind.

K.O. was a quick streaming hit on Netflix and has been trending since its debut. But what is the hype all about? Set in Marseille, France, K.O. follows a retired MMA fighter, Bastein, who took a step back from the profession after accidentally landing a fatal blow on his opponent, Enzo. While the guilt was already eating him alive, what tugs at the heartstrings is that Enzo’s family was present to witness the death first-hand. However, that’s not the story of K.O..

The film follows Bastein on his journey of redemption after Enzo’s wife reluctantly seeks assistance to track down her missing son. K.O. is absolutely intense, raw, and revealing. For anyone who believes language is a barrier in entertainment, K.O.’s global reception is an eye-opener. Although the film falls majorly under the umbrella of the action genre, the Netflix project explores a plethora of human emotions without sugarcoating any of it.

Sure, the storyline plays a role. But the execution? It’s a class apart. From its stunning camera work and thrilling undertone to its one-of-a-kind action choreography and star-studded ensemble, K.O. packs a punch in every aspect. Since its Netflix release, rave reviews have flooded the Internet, suggesting a brilliant streaming future for the flick. And so far, it has checked every blockbuster expectation.

Moreover, K.O. projects a world of contrasts through its characters. But by characters, the film doesn’t only mean the living ones. It meticulously utilises its backdrop to amplify the silence. And underneath the quietness lies a layered loudness of impending danger and fear. The past feels alive in the present in K.O.. But way more than the physical intensity of the movie, it’s the emotional quotient that steals the show.

Despite being an action-thriller, it’s the weight of Bastein’s guilt that becomes a driving force. It doesn’t overwhelm the audience in ways they would expect. In fact, it subverts expectations to bring forth a slice of reality on screen. K.O. is a film where disparate worlds collide to make unlikely alliances. It doesn’t ask much of the audience except for them to read between the lines.