Prime Video has just added what’s being hailed as the ‘action film of the year’ and ‘one of the best sequels ever’.
The Accountant 2, a follow-up to the 2016 original, is now part of Amazon’s streaming library as of today (June 5), despite only hitting cinemas earlier this year.
The first film, considered a hidden gem by many, can be viewed with a Sky Cinema subscription or a NOW membership.
Ben Affleck reprises his role as forensic accountant Christian Wolff in the sequel, joining forces with his estranged yet deadly brother, portrayed by Jon Bernthal, to hunt down elusive assassins.
Rumours of a sequel began circulating in 2017, but as time passed, it seemed to fade from fans’ minds.
Speculation about a third instalment has also been rife, with filming for the sequel only starting in March last year.
Despite lukewarm reviews for the first film, it became a fan favourite, and followers have finally been rewarded with a sequel.
Bill Dubuque, the original writer who later created the Netflix series Ozark, returned to write the script and also took on directorial duties, reports Bristol Live.
The sequel has outperformed its predecessor both commercially and critically, earning a 77% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Fans have been quick to laud it both as a standalone action film and for its accomplishments as a sequel.
One enthusiastic viewer hailed it as “one of the best sequels ever”. Another fan raved: “This is probably the best action movie of the year. The test of a good sequel, for me, is that it works as movie in its own right, which this does. Whilst it will not win any Oscars, it was thoroughly enjoyable and made us laugh. The story line connects well to the original movie and the dynamic between the brothers is both funny and serious at the same time.”
Although it may not receive any Oscars, the reviewer found it enjoyable, humorous, and appreciated the well-connected storyline to the original film, as well as the brothers’ dynamic, which effortlessly switched between comedy and seriousness.
Another fan shared their thoughts online, stating: “This is how you do a sequel! The Accountant 2 blew me away. Unlike most action sequels that just go bigger and louder, this one slows down when it needs to and it works. The relationship between the brothers actually matters, and that emotional core gives the action real weight.”
They continued: “There’s comedy that actually made me laugh, a bit of romance, and a moment or two that hit surprisingly hard. And yeah, when it’s time to throw down, the fight scenes are slick, brutal, and insanely fun to watch. I came for the action, stayed for the characters, and left fully satisfied. Give me The Accountant 3 now!”
Additionally, while many fans argue that the original showcased Affleck’s peak performance, others now claim that the sequel shines the spotlight on Daredevil’s Bernthal.
As one person put forward: “Bernthal is a national treasure. It was nice to see him do his thing in an action movie and not have nightmares from his grunting noises he does as the Punisher. He has never disappointed in any film, and made this movie 100% better just being in it.”
The Accountant 2 is streaming on Prime Video.