Mark Wahlberg's 2012 action thriller, Contraband, is currently experiencing a surge in popularity on Netflix, ranking as the fifth most-watched movie in the U.S. The film, directed by Baltasar Kormákur, follows Chris Farraday, a former smuggler who attempts to leave his criminal past behind for a quiet life with his family.
However, his plans are disrupted when his brother-in-law falls into debt with a dangerous drug lord. To protect his loved ones, Farraday is forced to return to his old smuggling ways. The plot thickens as he travels to Panama with a crew to collect a significant sum of counterfeit money, a mission that quickly escalates in complexity and danger.
Farraday must utilize the skills and underworld connections he had hoped to leave behind, all while evading those who covet the money and those who wish him dead. The ensemble cast includes Kate Beckinsale as his wife, alongside Ben Foster, Giovanni Ribisi, Diego Luna, and J.K. Simmons.
While Contraband did not receive universal critical acclaim, earning a 50% score from critics and 57% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, its straightforward crime thriller narrative and familiar star power have clearly resonated with a new streaming audience. The film's blend of a dangerous smuggling operation and action sequences has contributed to its resurgence on Netflix.
