Collateral

If you want a crime drama that treats its mystery as more than a puzzle, Collateral is available in Australia on ABC iview, and in the US on Paramount Plus Premium and Starz Apple TV Channel right now. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 6,334 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Watch Tom Cruise work — the performance is a masterclass in restraint. Available now on ABC iview — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Collateral is worth clearing space for. At its heart, Collateral understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. Cab driver Max picks up a man who offers him $600 to drive him around. But the promise of easy money sours when Max realizes his fare is an assassin. The writing gets a boost from Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx, who sell every scene they're in. It was released in 2004. Collateral is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, Collateral will keep you hooked. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Tom Cruise carries scenes that would sink a lesser production. The resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary, which is rarer than it sounds.