Anon

Anon has built a real following in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Netflix among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. Its 6/10 TMDB score, built from 1,743 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Clive Owen's performance is the anchor the more ambitious scenes need. Put it on tonight on Netflix and see for yourself.

Anon arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. What makes Anon work is that the ideas never crowd out the people having them. Set in a near-future world where there is no privacy, ignorance or anonymity, our private memories are recorded and crime almost ceases to exist. In trying to solve a series of unsolved murders, Sal Frieland stumbles onto a young woman who appears to have subverted the system and disappeared. She has no identity, no history and no record. Clive Owen and Amanda Seyfried lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2018. The rules of Anon's world are consistent enough that the big swings never feel like cheating. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Sci-fi fans who want ideas alongside the spectacle will find Anon genuinely rewarding. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Clive Owen grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Once you are in, you will want to talk about it.