After a five-year wait, Netflix has finally released "The Old Guard 2," the sequel to the 2020 action hit that introduced audiences to a group of immortal warriors quietly saving the world for centuries. While the original film, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, was praised for its grounded emotional storytelling, fresh take on immortality, and thrilling action sequences, its follow-up, directed by Victoria Mahoney, has stumbled badly, leaving critics and fans alike largely disappointed.
"The Old Guard" first burst onto the streaming scene during the pandemic shutdowns, quickly becoming a modest hit for Netflix. Based on Greg Rucka's comic book series, the film centered on Andy (Charlize Theron), a fierce immortal warrior grappling with the burden of endless life while leading her team on dangerous missions to protect humanity. The blend of action, heart, and a unique mythology won over viewers, earning the original an 80% "certified fresh" rating from critics and a 71% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Fast forward to 2025, and "The Old Guard 2" arrives after a protracted and troubled production. Filming wrapped in 2022, but the project faced significant delays, including a five-week post-production shutdown following leadership upheavals at Netflix. These setbacks seem to have taken a toll on the film’s quality, as it now carries a mere 28% critic score and a 44% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a stark contrast to its predecessor’s acclaim.
The sequel expands the cast, welcoming new faces such as Uma Thurman, Henry Golding, and Veronica Ngô, alongside returning stars Theron, KiKi Layne, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Matthias Schoenaerts, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Thurman’s addition, in particular, has been singled out as a highlight, bringing a “right dose of pulp and gravitas” to the film’s mythology. Yet, despite this star power, many critics and viewers feel the film squanders its potential.
Victoria Mahoney’s direction attempts to broaden the universe and deepen the lore of the immortal warriors, picking up where the first film left off. The story reintroduces Quynh (Veronica Ngô), Andy’s long-lost lover, who was trapped underwater for centuries and is now freed by Discord (Uma Thurman), a mysterious immortal opposed to Andy’s interference in human affairs. New immortals like Tuah (Henry Golding) also enter the fray, adding layers to the mythology.
However, the plot suffers from a lack of focus. It juggles multiple threads — Quynh’s revenge quest, Discord’s disdain for humanity, Nile’s (KiKi Layne) evolving powers, and Andy’s struggle with newfound mortality — but fails to weave them into a cohesive narrative. The film’s pacing feels uneven, with moments of rushed exposition and soap-opera-style drama that undercut the tension. As one critic put it, "It’s an unfinished concept underpinned by soap-opera dramatics, and for every emotional beat posed, there is a bizarre, rushed set-up for ‘The Old Guard 3.’"
Action sequences, once a strong suit of the franchise, also disappoint. Where the original balanced thrilling combat with emotional stakes, the sequel’s fights are often described as chaotic or “shockingly tame.” The opening scene, featuring the team stopping an arms shipment at a Croatian villa, showcases some promise but quickly devolves into a blur of cuts and incoherence. Fans hoping for the pulse-pounding excitement of the first film may find themselves underwhelmed.
Critics have been harsh. Rotten Tomatoes user Tommy F gave the sequel half a star, lamenting it “failed to deliver anything interesting or new” and advising fans to avoid it. Another viewer, Anthony T., called it “poorly plotted and acted,” unable to finish the movie. Christophe V. echoed these sentiments, citing “bad action scenes, weird storytelling, terrible dialogue, uneven acting, and very average cinematography,” watching only twenty minutes before giving up.
Industry reviewers have been similarly critical. Robert Daniels of RogerEbert.com described the film as “an emotionally inert slog” with “a dull and underdeveloped script” lacking a compelling story. Bilge Ebiri of Vulture pointed to a “debilitating cheapness” that kept the film from reaching its potential. Shawn Van Horn from Collider criticized the film’s heavy-handed exposition and its failure to “show, not tell,” while calling the action sequences surprisingly muted.
Yet, not all is lost. Some praise remains, particularly for the performances of Theron and Thurman. Brandon Yu of The New York Times called Thurman “a brilliant addition” who brings gravitas and pulp energy, though he lamented how little she and Theron share the screen. Veronica Ngô’s portrayal of Quynh was also highlighted as a strong emotional anchor, conveying the heavy burden of immortality with genuine feeling.
Plot-wise, the sequel explores complex themes such as love, betrayal, and the existential weight of eternal life, but these are often overshadowed by convoluted plotting and an overreliance on setting up future franchise installments. The film ends on a cliffhanger, with Andy and Quynh — both now mortal — preparing to confront Discord, leaving audiences with more questions than answers and a sense of an incomplete story.
The film’s runtime of approximately 100 minutes feels padded with filler, and many viewers report that the narrative momentum stalls, with little payoff for the time invested. The final act, involving a nuclear reactor explosion trap and capture of several immortals, is criticized for lacking urgency and coherence. The director’s background in television dramas like "Suits L.A." and "Grey’s Anatomy" perhaps contributed to the film’s uneven tone and pacing.
Ultimately, "The Old Guard 2" serves as a cautionary tale about the challenges of sequel-making, especially when weighed down by production troubles and lofty franchise ambitions. Where the first film balanced heart and action to carve out a unique space in the superhero genre, the sequel struggles to find its footing, resulting in a fragmented, often frustrating experience.
For fans of the original, the sequel’s shortcomings may sting, but the performances of Theron and Thurman offer some solace. Whether Netflix will proceed with a third installment remains uncertain, especially given the sequel’s reception and the apparent lack of narrative closure. As one reviewer bluntly put it, the streamer might be better off “quietly scrubbing Old Guard 2 from its servers and pretending it never happened.”
In the end, "The Old Guard 2" is a reminder that even immortal heroes aren’t immune to missteps — and that sometimes, the weight of eternity comes with a heavy price.
