Club Benefits
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Daily (Mon-Sun)
Tom's Guide Daily
Sign up to get the latest updates on all of your favorite content! From cutting-edge tech news and the hottest streaming buzz to unbeatable deals on the best products and in-depth reviews, we’ve got you covered.
Weekly on Thursday
Tom's AI Guide
Be AI savvy with your weekly newsletter summing up all the biggest AI news you need to know. Plus, analysis from our AI editor and tips on how to use the latest AI tools!
Weekly on Friday
Tom's iGuide
Unlock the vast world of Apple news straight to your inbox. With coverage on everything from exciting product launches to essential software updates, this is your go-to source for the latest updates on all the best Apple content.
Weekly on Monday
Tom's Streaming Guide
Our weekly newsletter is expertly crafted to immerse you in the world of streaming. Stay updated on the latest releases and our top recommendations across your favorite streaming platforms.
Join the club
Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.
Following up a critically acclaimed and fan-favorite flick is a pretty tough job. Just ask “Sicario: Day of the Soldado”. This 2018 crime thriller struggled to reach the heights of its 2015 predecessor (it dropped in both average critical reception and box office takings). However, this was no misfire. It's still a well-constructed sequel that can be enjoyed even if you skipped the first movie.
In fact, I’d go as far as to say this follow-up has become overlooked in the years since its release. I still see the first “Sicario” talked about fairly often, but “Day of the Soldado” rarely gets the same recognition. Fortunately, it appears the movie is enjoying something of a resurgence as it’s just found its way into the Prime Video top 10 (as of Wednesday, December 11) after landing on the Amazon-owned streamer at the start of the month.
What is ‘Sicario: Day of the Soldado’ about?
While technically a sequel to 2015’s “Sicario”, “Day of the Soldado” was pitched as a “stand-alone spin-off” that can be enjoyed without having seen the first movie in the franchise. However, while the narrative doesn’t require the context of the original and can be followed by newcomers, there are several returning characters, and your watch will be richer if you’ve met the cast before.
Following a terrorist attack on U.S. soil, FBI agent Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) is instructed to resort to extreme measures to combat the Mexican crime cartels that are believed to have been involved. To succeed in this testing mission, Graver enlists a lethal operative, Alejandro Gillick (Benicio del Toro), who has a reputation for completing practically impossible jobs.
Deciding to kidnap the daughter of a high-ranking cartel kingpin, and frame a rival gang in the process, Graver and Gillick find themselves questioning their mission, as they descend further into a complex web of sinister motivations and morally gray actions. This is a crime thriller with real venom in its bite.
Stream ‘Sicario: Day of the Soldado’ on Prime Video now
“Sicario: Day of the Soldado” didn’t enjoy the overwhelmingly positive critical reception of its predecessor. The first “Sicario” movie scored an impressive 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, while “Day of the Soldado” managed a comparatively lukewarm 62% score on the same site. Its audience reception was also lower dropping from a high 85% to a more mixed 66% rating.
This is a sentiment I largely echo. I can't deny it, “Day of the Soldado” is a step-down, but it's still a worthwhile watch in its own right. For starters, Brolin and del Toro make for a fantastic action-thriller double-team. They’ve got enough macho energy to carry the numerous high-octane action sequences, but their underlining character dynamic is what keeps the movie interesting across its two-hour runtime. Benicio del Toro in particular is excellent as Gillick.
Director Stefano Sollima steps into the hot seat (replacing Denis Villeneuve) and keeps things generally slick throughout “Sicario: Day of the Soldado”. There’s some strong filmmaking panache on display, and each firefight is easy to follow and hits hard with punchy sound effects. The movie also asks some tough moral questions and isn’t afraid to leave unanswered questions.
If you’re looking for something to quicken your pulse this week then “Sicario: Day of the Soldado” will get the job done with an efficiency that Alejandro Gillick would be proud of. Alternatively, if drug cartels and clandestine kidnappings aren’t what you’re craving this December, be sure to check out these jolly holiday movies in the Prime Video top 10. In these festive-themed flicks, you'll find fewer cartels and a lot more candy canes.
More from Tom's Guide
