Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher: Never Go Back

If you’re both a Netflix subscriber and a fan of Jack Reacher, then we have some bad news for you, as it’s been confirmed by the streaming giant (via What’s on Netflix) that Halloween will be the last day you have to watch the two feature film versions that were released in 2012 and 2016 respectively. Based on the popular series of novels by author Lee Child, the titular character burst onto the scene in 1997 with the first book, Killing Floor, and has been a staple in the action genre ever since, with a new story releasing religiously each year.

While fans had long been clamoring for a big screen version of their favorite former military police officer-turned nomad, when it was announced that Tom Cruise was cast, people balked at the idea of his 5’7″ frame embodying the role of someone who’s 6’5″ in the books. The decision was defended by Child himself, who said that Reacher’s size was “a metaphor for an unstoppable force, which Cruise portrays in his own way.” Still, people were apprehensive, but when Jack Reacher premiered on December 21, 2012, naysayers were silenced, as the actor did the impossible by bringing Reacher to life in what was an adaptation of the 2005 novel, One Shot, commanding each scene with a presence that dripped an ominous aura that told us he was not to be messed with, despite his small stature.

Grossing $218 million at the box office against a budget of $60 million, the film was a rousing success, and led to the sequel in 2016, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as well received as the first entry, earning just $162 million against the same budget amount as the first, and garnering a 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Still, it was fun for what it was, but the film’s critical reception and box office performance led to the kibosh of any future sequels, seemingly putting an end to the franchise until 2022.

Reacher Has Been a Tremendous Success on Prime Video

Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher. Reacher Season 2
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Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher.
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Though the future of Child’s beloved character may have halted on the big screen, he was resurrected in 2022 by Alan Ritchson when the series Reacher made its debut on Prime Video. Finally, fans were presented with someone who personified the vision they had in their heads, as the actors’ hulking size was more accurate to the novels. It wasn’t just his bulk, however, as Ritchson managed to take on every trait – every nuanced movement – and breathe life into Reacher in such a way that made us all stand up and applaud.

It showed in its critical reception, too, as overall, it currently has a 95% average rating on Rotten Tomatoes across both seasons. Season 3 is set to debut at some point in 2025, and Season 4 has already been greenlit by Amazon way ahead of its premiere, signifying their faith in the series’ continued success.

As if that wasn’t enough, a spin-off is also in the works that will focus on Maria Sten’s character of Frances Neagley, who served with Reacher in the 110th Special Investigations Unit as a Master sergeant, and has been a fan-favorite in the series as someone who’s one of the only people who he’ll listen to. A release date has yet to be set, so it’ll probably still be a while before it hits Prime Video, but we can at least take comfort in knowing that with its announcement, and the early renewal of the main series, the world of Reacher is going to be around for a long, long time.