• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Controversial John Cena movie soars into Netflix's top 10 leaving fans divided

Home> Film & TV> Netflix

Published 12:00 9 Aug 2025 GMT+1

Controversial John Cena movie soars into Netflix's top 10 leaving fans divided

"I'd watch John Cena read the phone book," joked one person on Twitter, while others were more critical

Joe Yates

Joe Yates

A controversial movie starring John Cena has burst into Netflix's top 10 chart, although not everyone is pleased.

It's fair to say that the WWE star has become an icon - he's as loved off-screen as he is on it, but it doesn't necessarily mean everyone is going to love the films he features in.

That's the case for one of the 48-year-old's most recent productions. Like The Rock, he has the pull factor and can draw in a large audience thanks to his chiseled jaw-line and pumped physique.

Advert

A fine example of this is what one person posted on Twitter: "I'd watch John Cena read the phone book."

That remark was made, while citing a picture from the movie in question.

It follows ex-special forces operative Mason Pettis, played by Cena, who takes on a freelance job to protect washed-up journalist Claire Wellington (Alison Brie) as she interviews dictator Juan Venegas (Juan Pablo Raba), who leads a fictional country.

John Cena stars in the movie alongside Alison Brie (Relativity Media)
John Cena stars in the movie alongside Alison Brie (Relativity Media)

Advert

While it sounds like a run-of-the-mill operation, a military coup breaks out and the trio has to fight to survive and make it to safety in one piece.

It's called Freelance and unfortunately, it tanked at the box office when it was released back in 2023 - but after Netflix bought the rights to stream it on its platform, it has been given a second lease of life.

It soared up to seventh in Netflix's top 10 movies, with one user posting: "Freelance by John Cena is such an amazing movie."

However, it has a tomatometer of just 10 percent on Rotten Tomatoes - which actually sat at zero percent when it first came out.

Advert

It received harsh reviews from critics, with Punch Drunk Critics' Travis Hopson writing: "Freelance is an utter disaster that I can't believe John Cena and Alison Brie agreed to be a part of."

Flickering Myth's Robert Kojder added: "A head-scratching disaster that doesn’t so much as mix genres and tones but rather puzzlingly cycles through them with no apparent reason or thematic purpose, desperately hoping something starts to click."

While Movie Nation's Roger Moore wrote: "'Very dumb' barely covers how silly and violent this half-assed Banana Republic riff turns out to be."

Advert

Although the audience score is much better, sitting at a comfortable 78 percent.

I think this proves that if you're watching Freelance for an incredible cinematic experience, don't waste your time... but if you fancy an easy-watch, you should definitely flick it on.

Featured Image Credit: Relativity Media

Topics: John Cena, Netflix, Rotten Tomatoes

Joe Yates
Joe Yates

Joe is a journalist for UNILAD, who particularly enjoys writing about crime. He has worked in journalism for five years, and has covered everything from murder trials to celeb news.

X

@JMYjourno

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
5 hours ago
8 hours ago
16 hours ago
  • 3 hours ago

    South Park seemingly respond after Kristi Noem calls creators 'sexist' for criticizing her looks

    Kristi Noem called out the creators of South Park during a recent podcast appearance

    Film & TV
  • 5 hours ago

    Kristi Noem responds after South Park episode where she shot a dog working for ICE

    Kristi Noem took the brunt of the jokes during a recent South Park episode

    Film & TV
  • 8 hours ago

    Amazon Prime viewers applaud 'realistic' medical series with new season set to focus on Trump's 'big beautiful bill'

    The creators of the show will draw inspiration from the potential impacts of the law

    Film & TV
  • 16 hours ago

    Woman forced to climb on roof to hide from home intruder produced 96% rated Netflix drama hailed as ‘unique and exciting’

    The show was praised for its originality

    Film & TV
  • 'Powerful' Netflix drama fans are calling '10/10' soars into top 10 after leaving viewers in tears
  • Netflix fans rave over action-thriller with perfect RT score and ‘bittersweet ending’
  • John Cena sued by Ford after he sold his rare 2017 Ford GT supercar
  • Netflix fans ‘gutted’ horror with perfect RT score never got a fourth season after impressing viewers with ‘dry humor’