New Netflix smash hit watched 14 million times in just three days
It would be impossible for a new Netflix hit racking up millions of views across the globe to escape your attention, right? Well, possibly not. Non-English language titles are big business on the platform, with Squid Game’s first season holding the record of being the most-watched show in the streaming giant’s history. Money Heist, Lupin and Society of the Snow have all attracted staggering viewing figures. Yet new releases can be hugely successful in some parts of the world and go almost unnoticed in others... (Picture: Laurent le Crabe/Netflix)
French action film K.O. was released on June 6 and attracted 14 million views in its first three days - making it the third most-watched movie on the platform overall last week. So what’s it all about? Bastien is an MMA fighter who accidentally kills his opponent, Enzo, in a bout, in front of the victim’s wife and son. Haunted by his mistake, Bastien (played by real-life MMA fighter Ciryl Gane) quits the sport and becomes a recluse, working in a salt mine (Picture: Laurent le Crabe/Netflix)
Enzo’s son, Léo, struggles to come to terms with his father’s death as the grief he experiences leads him down a dark path, and he eventually goes missing. Emma - his mum and Enzo’s widow - reluctantly turns to Bastien to help track him down, who seizes the opportunity at some semblance of redemption (Picture: Laurent le Crabe/Netflix)
The movie made it into the top 10 most popular films in a whopping 92 countries last week, including claiming the very top spot in its native France and Paraguay. It’s yet to garner enough critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes to hold an official Tomatometre score, but some viewers have already made their judgement. Edward H wrote one the review aggregation website: ‘I am neither a film critic nor an expert on films but I do know a good action thriller when I see one. And this is it! Never a dull moment. The hero is one hell of a fighting machine. I am sure all action fans out there would love to watch this one’ (Picture: Laurent le Crabe/Netflix)
K.O. currently holds a mediocre 5.8 star rating on IMDb from more than 2,000 reviews, where reaction has been very mixed. Playtoyer awarded it a perfect 10, saying: ‘K.O. is thrilling, action packed with sensational fight scenes. The former MMA fighter Ciryl Gane in his starring debut is amazing in this revenge Taken type movie turned hero' (Picture: Netflix)
At the other end of the scale, Hakihiko awarded it five stars, writing: ‘K.O. starts off with the promise of a hard-hitting thriller but fails to fully deliver on its premise. The setup has potential, and there are a few moments of well-shot tension, but overall, the movie feels uneven and undercooked’ (Picture: Netflix)
Movie lead Ciryl Gane is also a UFC star, boasting an impressive 13-2 record and once holding the interim UFC Heavyweight Championship following victory over Derrick Lewis at UFC 265 in 2021. He balances his fight career with acting, and has appeared in movies including the Gerard Butler-starring Den of Thieves: Pantera. In 2024 he told Office Magazine: 'I like to perform. I would also love to be a Hollywood movie star one day. I love cinema, playing roles, and getting into characters' (Picture: Getty)
