John Cena's Freelance Action Comedy Leaves Netflix on August 3, 2026

John Cena's action-comedy Freelance is leaving Netflix on August 3, 2026, after a brief stint on the platform. The movie, also starring Alison Brie and Christian Slater, failed to make a significant impact at the box office, grossing only $10 million globally.

What happened?

Freelance, directed by Pierre Morel, revolves around Cena's character, Mason Pettits, a former US Army Special Forces soldier turned lawyer. When an old teammate, Sebastian Earle (Slater), approaches Mason with a lucrative offer to protect a disgraced journalist, Claire Wellington (Brie), he sees it as an opportunity to escape his current life and accepts. However, it takes Mason back to the fictional nation of Paldonia, where he sustained a major injury while trying to assassinate the country's leader years earlier.

Why it matters for John Cena

The movie's poor performance at the box office and with critics may raise concerns about Cena's ability to carry a film outside of the professional wrestling ring. However, it's worth noting that Cena has had success in the film industry, particularly in family-friendly movies like Trainwreck and Blockers.

What comes next?

The cast of Freelance also includes Juan Pablo Raba as President Juan Venegas, Alice Eve as Jenny Pettits, Marton Csokas as Colonel Jan Koehorst, and Sebastián Eslava as Jorge Vásquez. The movie's departure from Netflix may not be a significant blow to Cena's career, but it does highlight the challenges he faces in transitioning from the wrestling world to Hollywood.

Freelance's failure to resonate with audiences and critics may be attributed to its haphazard script and lack of a clear direction. However, the movie's cast, including Cena and Brie, makes up for some of its shortcomings. The critic Leslie Felperin of The Guardian noted that the movie's likable cast and sun-bleached palette make it reasonably entertaining.

The movie's departure from Netflix on August 3, 2026, marks the end of its brief stint on the platform. While Freelance may not be a significant success for Cena, it does demonstrate his willingness to take on new challenges and explore different genres.