An often overlooked Tom Cruise gem – a sequel that flew largely under the radar – has made a surprise comeback, soaring into Netflix’s top five and capturing the attention of a whole new audience.

It seems Tom Cruise is everywhere these days.

If he isn’t being tipped to be the new Iron Man, he’s taking a breathtaking leap from the top of the Stade de France in the showstopping finale at the Olympics.

The Mission: Impossible star has enjoyed an enormously high-profile for the past 40-odd years, and his popularity just seems to keep on rising. So much so, in fact, that even his lesser-known films can often still command colossal viewing figures.

A follow-up to a mysteriously often overlooked book adaptation – which went on to become a hugely popular TV series on Amazon Prime – is currently nestled at number 2 in Netflix’s US charts. Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016) may not have done the same numbers as the original at the box office, but some have heralded it as actually being better.

The action thriller is directed by Edward Zwick and is the follow-up to the self-titled 2012 film. The movie stars Tom Cruise as the titular character, a former military police officer with a knack for finding trouble and busting heads.

Tom Cruise Movies Recently Added to Netflix Are Taking the Platform by Storm

The story picks up four years after the events of the first film. Jack returns to his old military base to meet Major Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders), the current head of his former unit, with whom he has been in contact and has developed a mutual admiration. However, upon arriving, he discovers that Turner has been arrested on charges of espionage.

Suspecting a conspiracy, Reacher digs deeper and uncovers a web of corruption that extends high into the military and corporate sectors. Along the way, he discovers a personal connection that further complicates matters: a young girl named Samantha Dayton (Danika Yarosh), who might be his daughter.

Determined to clear Turner’s name and protect Samantha, Reacher plunges into a dangerous mission against powerful enemies. The movie combines suspense, intriguing plot twists, and intense combat which still packs a punch.

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back was lauded as a ‘superior sequel’ by Empire Magazine’s Jonathan Pile, while Peter Travers, writing for Rolling Stone, said: “Critics were snotty in 2012 when Cruise first played Reacher, because the 5’7″ actor is not the six-five, 250-pound bruiser of Lee Child’s novels. Get over it. The admirably defiant star brings his own agility and quick wit to the role.”

With a reasonable 6.1 rating on IMDb, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back has more than its fair share of admirers. Ayushtavar posted: “If you’re a die-hard Jack Reacher fan then you’re gonna love this movie. If you’re a fan of action movies in general then you’ll certainly like it. It’s got all the right things in place.”

Anurag-Shetty said: “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is a brilliant film. This movie is as entertaining as its predecessor, with the action sequences more intense and thrilling.”

Davidphantom01 added: “I liked this movie, I suppose I knew the plot, but there were significant changes from the book. This kept even the most avid book reader on their toes. A movie does not have to be exactly the same as the book. All in all an entertaining action flick for all ages.”

The role of Jack Reacher has since been taken over by Alan Ritchson. You can see if he has the chops to rival Cruise in the show ‘Reacher’, which is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.