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Netflix Quietly Adds an X-Men Star’s 120-Minute Crime Gem
Netflix has added the 2024 crime thriller Asphalt City to its streaming library, giving wider exposure to a film that largely flew under the radar on its original release. The addition is notable partly for its cast: Sean Penn, one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation and a three-time Oscar winner, stars alongside X-Men actor Tye Sheridan, and the film arrives on Netflix following Penn's latest Academy Award win for his supporting role in One Battle After Another.
In Asphalt City, Penn and Sheridan play two New York City paramedics whose night shift spirals into chaos as each emergency call escalates. Directed by Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire and adapted from Shannon Burke's 2008 novel Black Flies, the roughly two-hour film also features Gbenga Akinnagbe, Kali Reis, Michael Pitt, Katherine Waterston and boxer Mike Tyson in supporting roles.
In short
- Netflix has quietly added 2024 crime drama Asphalt City to its library.
- Sean Penn and Tye Sheridan play NYC paramedics on a chaotic night shift.
- Penn recently won an Oscar for One Battle After Another.
Explained simply
Asphalt City is a 2024 crime thriller centring on two New York City paramedics whose routine night shift becomes increasingly dangerous as emergency calls escalate. Directed by Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire and adapted from Shannon Burke's 2008 novel Black Flies, the two-hour film explores the pressures and chaos of emergency medical work.
The cast is anchored by Sean Penn, one of cinema's most celebrated actors and a three-time Academy Award winner, opposite Tye Sheridan, who is well known for his roles in the X-Men franchise. The supporting ensemble includes Gbenga Akinnagbe, Kali Reis, Michael Pitt, Katherine Waterston and former heavyweight champion boxer Mike Tyson.
When the film was released in 2024, it received limited attention and struggled to find a wide theatrical audience. For many viewers, the film's broader availability now represents a chance to discover a well-acted crime drama that largely went unnoticed during its initial release.