B-Movie Action Franchise Clinches 2 Spots On Netflix’s US Top 10 Chart
Two different Sniper movies have become Netflix streaming hits in the U.S. The movie franchise originated in 1993 with Sniper, which followed Tom Berenger and Billy Zane as a pair of snipers attempting an assassination in Panama. The movie didn’t get its first sequel until 2002’s Sniper 2, which was then followed by eight more installments through 2023’s Sniper: G.R.I.T. – Global Response & Intelligence Team. This brought the total to 10 movies, six of which starred Berenger as Master Gunnery Sergeant Tom Beckett, and seven of which starred Chad Michael Collins as his son, Marine Sergeant Brandon Beckett.
Netflix has now calculated their most-watched English-language movies for the week of December 25 through December 31, 2023. On the chart, 2017’s Sniper: Ultimate Kill has claimed the No. 3 spot, followed at No. 4 by 2020’s Sniper: Assassins End. Both Sniper movies rank higher than several major contemporary blockbusters including Meg 2: The Trench (No. 5) and Gran Turismo (No. 8).
So far, the Sniper franchise does not have an officially announced tenth sequel in development. However, this newfound streaming success could provide producers with a push to greenlight Sniper 11. The franchise has certainly stood the test of time, though one possible reason for its longevity may also account for this delay: it has a relatively consistent cast of main characters.
Although the Billy Zane Sniper return took the longest, with a gap of two titles after his first appearance, every main character in the franchise has now appeared in at least three sequels to their original outing. Likewise, no Sniper movie has been made without the participation of at least one of the three main stars. Collins alone has appeared in the two most recent installments, so his schedule would likely be the one that impacts the possibility of Sniper 11 the most.
Although the Billy Zane Sniper return took the longest, with a gap of two titles after his first appearance, every main character in the franchise has now appeared in at least three sequels to their original outing. Likewise, no Sniper movie has been made without the participation of at least one of the three main stars. Collins alone has appeared in the two most recent installments, so his schedule would likely be the one that impacts the possibility of Sniper 11 the most.
