The Old Guard 2 Review: A Sequel That Misses Its Mark
Remember The Old Guard back in 2020? A fresh take on the action genre, with Charlize Theron leading a team of immortal warriors and some surprisingly emotional storytelling. Fast-forward to 2025, and its long-awaited sequel has finally landed on Netflix. But after three years of delays, the result is... underwhelming.
The Old Guard 2 feels more like a rough draft than a finished film—and that’s a shame for a franchise that had real potential.
So, What’s The Old Guard 2 About?
The story picks up six months after the events of the first movie. Andy (Charlize Theron) has lost her immortality and is trying to rebuild trust with Quỳnh, the immortal lover she left behind centuries ago. Meanwhile, a new threat emerges: a mysterious villain named Discord (played by Uma Thurman), who may be even older than Andy herself.
Nile (KiKi Layne), the newest member of the immortal crew, is caught in the middle—trying to decide where her loyalty lies as the team faces new fractures and threats.
Sounds epic, right? Unfortunately, the execution doesn’t live up to the premise.
A Film That Feels Half-Baked
Let’s be honest: the movie looks and feels unfinished.
The cinematography is flat. The color grading is barely there. At times, the visuals resemble raw, unpolished footage. For a high-concept action movie, The Old Guard 2 feels weirdly low-effort on the production side.
And that’s not the only problem.
Zero Recap, Zero Context
You’d think after such a long gap between movies, the sequel would offer a quick recap or something to refresh viewers’ memory. Nope.
There’s no text intro, no character breakdown, and no explanation for new viewers. You’re expected to just remember everything from the first film—or be confused. It’s a bold choice... but not a good one.
Cast Fatigue and Wasted Talent
Charlize Theron still has presence, but she’s not bringing the fire this time. KiKi Layne, meant to be the emotional core of the film, delivers a performance so flat it’s almost hard to watch. She was great in the original—but here, she feels sidelined and disconnected.
Then there’s Uma Thurman. Her villainous role had real potential, but she barely gets screen time. When she does show up, she elevates the energy instantly—but it’s too little, too late.
Action That Lacks Impact
The first movie had some solid action scenes. Not groundbreaking, but stylish and fun. The Old Guard 2 tries to match that energy and fails.
One key fight scene—in a narrow alley between Andy and Quỳnh—is dull and poorly choreographed. The big final battle? Clearly shot on a green screen, with stunt doubles doing most of the work. There’s no thrill, no creativity, no sense of danger.
And Then... a Cliffhanger?
Yes, after all this, the movie ends on a cliffhanger—hinting at yet another sequel. But based on this outing, it’s hard to imagine audiences demanding more. It feels like the franchise is stretching itself thin, fast.
Final Verdict
The Old Guard 2 had potential—but it fumbles almost every opportunity. With flat visuals, uninspired performances, clunky storytelling, and a lifeless script, it ends up feeling like a placeholder in the Netflix catalog.
Rating: 2/5
If you’re a diehard fan of the original, it might be worth checking out just to see where the story goes. But if you’re looking for a slick, satisfying action film? This ain’t it.
Final Thoughts
Netflix helped kick off the streaming blockbuster era with projects like The Old Guard. But with this sequel, we’re seeing what happens when content feels more like obligation than inspiration.
Here’s hoping the franchise either steps it up—or stops while it still has fans left.