Netflix fans rave over Mark Wahlberg war movie that earned four million viewers in a week

Every now and again a film crops up on Netflix we might have seen before but forgot how much of a banger it was.

Or perhaps the streaming service gets you discovering some absolute gems. And one decade-old film recently picked up a whopping four million views in just a week.

Mark Wahlberg is one of those actors who’s starred in countless films, with over 20 released in the last ten years.

I mean, if you type his name into Netflix, you’ve practically got a weekend full of binging. But it’s an old 2013 flick that’s got people talking now.

Lone Survivor recently made it to Netflix’s Global Top 10 despite not being a new movie by any means.

The war film is based on the 2007 nonfiction book of the same name and sees Wahlberg as the biographer, Marcus Luttrell.

The synopsis for Lone Survivor reads: “Marcus Luttrell and his team set out on a mission to capture or kill notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shah, in late June 2005.

Universal Pictures

“Marcus and his team are left to fight for their lives in one of the most valiant efforts of modern warfare.”

Directed by Peter Berg, the film also features Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch and Ben Foster.

Screen Rant reports that thanks to global Netflix views between 13 and 19 November, Lone Survivor picked up a mega four million views with eight million hours viewed.

It was a hit at the time of release too, grossing $154million (£122million) on a $40million (£31.7million) budget.

The National Board Review named it as one of the top ten films of the year and it received Oscar nominations for Best Sound Editing and Sound Mixing.

Mark Wahlberg won a Critics’ Choice Award as Best Actor in an Action Movie for Lone Survivor too, as well as it scooping up Best Action Film.

Universal Pictures

However, it was a mixed bag with critics generally at the time and currently sits at a respectable 75 percent on the Tomatometer.

But an audience score ranks it with a mega 87 percent.

Viewers say: “For enthusiasts of wartime battle films, this movie truly stood out. It excelled in acting, direction, stunts, and cinematography. Kudos to everyone involved. Gods bless our soldiers!”

Some do call it ‘boring’, but others say it’s ‘chilling’ and ‘incredible’.

One even put: “A movie has never made me more emotional. Fear, desperation, and gut-wrenching sadness. It's moving and does its purpose, to make you feel something. Even if a mustard seed in comparison to what those brave soldiers went through. The film did them justice; mainstreaming their determination and repay them in gratitude for their ultimate sacrifice.”

While Lone Survivor isn’t currently available on UK Netflix, it is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video.

Topics: TV and Film, Netflix, Mark Wahlberg

Jess Battison

Jess is an Entertainment Journalist with a love of all things pop culture. Her main interests include keeping up with the Twitter girlies, waiting for a new series of The Traitors and losing her voice at a Beyoncé concert. She graduated with a first in Journalism from City, University of London in 2021 and has previously worked at MyLondon.

@jessbattison_