The Fan

The Fan is currently streaming in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on fuboTV, and its case-by-case structure never gets in the way of the bigger story. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 878 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Watch Robert De Niro work — the performance is a masterclass in restraint. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Fan is worth clearing space for. The Fan treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. When the San Francisco Giants pay center-fielder, Bobby Rayburn $40 million to lead their team to the World Series, no one is happier or more supportive than #1 fan, Gil Renard. When Rayburn becomes mired in the worst slump of his career, the obsessed Renard decides to stop at nothing to help his idol regain his former glory—not even murder. Robert De Niro and Wesley Snipes lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1996. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — The Fan passes that test consistently. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in The Fan. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Robert De Niro carries scenes that would sink a lesser production. The resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary, which is rarer than it sounds.