Netflix's new number one movie is a sub-90 min comedy thriller

Netflix’s new number one movie has finally bumped romcom Find Me Falling off the top spot, even though it would not necessarily be first pick for many US and UK viewers.

Why? Non Negotiable is a non English language film, a Mexican comedy thriller we think perhaps a few more English speakers should take note of.

It’s currently the top Netflix movie in just nine countries, according to Flixpatrol, and has managed to snag the global top spot despite ranking just eighth in the US.

What is Non Negotiable about? A hostage negotiator called Alan Binder, played by Mauricio Ochmann.

He doesn’t play by the book, but is considered a negotiation hotshot.

His wife, played by Tato Alexander, isn’t too impressed by his expoits. But she’s dragged into his world anyway when she ends up involved, as a hostage, in the kidnapping of the president, played by Enoc Leaño.

High concept hi jinx and a runtime of less than 90 minutes (86 mins, for the detail fans)? That sounds like the perfect piece of content to stick on of an evening when you don’t want to get to bed too late. Those sub-90-min films are like gold dust.

But is Non Negotiable actually a good film?

We think this is one to maybe not take too much notice of the surface-level critic stats. It has a pretty dismal 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and an even worse 20% Audience score.

However, by the reckoning of a couple of outlets we often head to when a film doesn’t have masses of reviews from the usual suspects, it may be just the tonic.

Decider gave Non Negotiable a positive “stream it” rating. "It’s hard to dislike Non Negotiable – it boasts a strong premise, and even though it strands a few too many baserunners, it still ekes out a win,” says the review.

Heaven of Horror, which always seems to have a review when other outlets don’t, also gave Non Negotiable a solid 3/5 review.

“This new Netflix movie is exactly the kind of movie viewers can enjoy on a Friday night. Will I watch it again? No. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy watching it once, because I really did,” says Heaven of Horror.

Is this not exactly what many of us head to Netflix for about 82% of the time?

Non Negotiable is directed by Juan Taratuto, who won a whole bunch of awards for 2013’s La Reconstrucción, which he directed and co-wrote, including the Critic’s Choice award at the Valladolid International Film Festival.

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