The Commuter

The Commuter is currently streaming in Australia on Netflix and BINGE, and in the US on fuboTV and Paramount Plus Premium, and its case-by-case structure never gets in the way of the bigger story. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Liam Neeson leads a cast that carries the story without ever feeling mechanical. Start it on Netflix whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Commuter is worth clearing space for. The plotting in The Commuter is tight enough that the twists feel earned rather than assembled. A businessman, on his daily commute home, gets unwittingly caught up in a criminal conspiracy that threatens not only his life but the lives of those around him. The writing gets a boost from Liam Neeson and Patrick Wilson, who sell every scene they're in. It was released in 2018. The Commuter is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For anyone who wants their crime drama to earn its twists, The Commuter delivers. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Liam Neeson carries scenes that would sink a lesser production. The resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary, which is rarer than it sounds.