Netflix's Man on Fire, a seven-part action series starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, has become a dominant hit on the platform five months after its release, racking up 224 million hours watched. Adapted from A.J. Quinnell's novel, the show follows retired special forces veteran John Creasy, who is drawn back into action to protect a young girl, Poe Rayburn, after a mission leaves him grief-stricken and battling PTSD. Its success matters because it demonstrates strong staying power for a Netflix original well beyond its initial release window, fuelling fan anticipation for a possible second season.

Directed by Steven Caple Jr. and Vicente Amorim, the series stars Billie Boulette as Poe and Bobby Cannavale as her father Paul Rayburn, whose death propels Creasy into an unwanted guardian role. Critics have praised Abdul-Mateen's portrayal of trauma and PTSD, noting the show offers a slower, more emotionally driven take on revenge compared with the explosive 2004 film starring Denzel Washington, even as it leans on familiar action-genre tropes. The relationship between Creasy and Poe has been singled out as the emotional core driving the show's ongoing popularity.