The Old Guard 2 Flop: Why It Failed and What’s Next

Few things sting quite like a sequel that misses the mark. The Old Guard 2, arriving five years after its beloved predecessor, landed on Netflix in July 2025 to a chorus of disappointment.

Release year of The Old Guard: 2020 ·
Release year of The Old Guard 2: 2025 ·
Director of The Old Guard 2: Victoria Mahoney ·
Rotten Tomatoes score of The Old Guard 2: 26% (as of July 2025) ·
Box office result of The Old Guard 2: Underperformed, considered a flop ·
Status of The Old Guard 3: Not officially announced

Two films, one franchise: here is how the numbers stack up between the original hit and the sequel flop.

Why did Old Guard 2 flop?

Box office performance and comparison to expectations

While Netflix does not release traditional box office figures for its originals, the industry reading is clear: The Old Guard 2 is considered a commercial disappointment. The original film, released in 2020, was one of Netflix’s most-watched titles that year. The sequel, arriving five years later, failed to generate the same cultural momentum. According to Pajiba (culture and film criticism outlet), the film felt like a “franchise killer” and expressed doubt a third film would happen.

Critical reception and audience response

The critical consensus was brutal. On Rotten Tomatoes (film review aggregator), The Old Guard 2 scored 27% from 109 critics, with the consensus calling it “bogged down by tedious lore and lackluster execution.” Pajiba noted the sequel “lacked heart, humor, and coherent action.” Everything Movie Reviews (action film analysis platform) argued the sequel “might have killed the franchise before it got off the ground.” Audience scores tell a slightly different story: Rotten Tomatoes audience score stood at 45%, suggesting some viewers found redeeming qualities.

Competition at the time of release

The July 2025 release window placed The Old Guard 2 against several established franchises and major studio releases. While Netflix has historically thrived in counter-programming, the sequel’s weak word-of-mouth meant it struggled to stand out in a crowded streaming landscape dominated by bigger-budget tentpoles.

Production challenges and delays

Development of the sequel was announced between 2021-2023, but the film took five years to reach screens. The original director Gina Prince-Bythewood did not return; Victoria Mahoney (the sequel’s director) took over. Reviews on Reels (film criticism site) noted the film spends much of its runtime “reintroducing characters and mythology before shifting into setup mode for a next chapter,” a sign of behind-the-scenes narrative indecision. The film was also the final production by Skydance before its merger with Paramount Global, adding corporate distraction to artistic challenges.

The implication: The sequel’s failure to capture the original’s momentum reflects deeper structural issues in Netflix’s franchise development approach.

Is The Old Guard a hit or flop?

Box office and viewership data for the first movie

The 2020 original was a genuine Netflix hit. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, it scored 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and generated strong viewership numbers, becoming one of the platform’s most-watched original films that year. Charlize Theron’s performance as Andy anchored a story that balanced action with genuine emotional stakes.

Comparison with second movie’s performance

The contrast is stark. The Old Guard 2’s 26% Rotten Tomatoes score represents a 54-point drop from the original. Metacritic (review aggregation platform) assigned a score of 44 out of 100, indicating “mixed or average” reviews — generous phrasing that masks the broadly negative tone. A YouTube film critic (popular review channel) said the film “dumbs down what was enjoyable about the first movie and becomes difficult to sit through,” specifically criticizing “choppy editing and bland action.”

Netflix metrics and public perception

Public perception has solidified around the flop narrative. Search trends show “The Old Guard 2 flop” as a dominant query. The film’s inability to recapture the original’s cultural footprint — no memes, no standout action sequences, no water-cooler dialogue — is the clearest indicator of failure. For a streaming platform, buzz is currency, and this sequel is bankrupt.

The pattern: The franchise’s decline mirrors a common Netflix misstep — relying on IP without ensuring creative continuity.

Is The Old Guard movie worth watching?

Strengths of the franchise (action, cast, premise)

The core premise — immortal warriors who have fought through history — remains compelling. Charlize Theron delivers her usual commitment, and the supporting cast of KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, and Marwan Kenzari brings depth. Even critics of the sequel admit the action variety remains a highlight. Everything Movie Reviews noted that the action variety “remained a highlight even though the sequel did not match the quality or quantity of the predecessor.”

Weaknesses of the sequel

The sequel’s problems are fundamental. Reviews on Reels described the plot as “generic” and the villain as “insufficiently menacing.” The film spends too much time on exposition and not enough on the character dynamics that made the first film special. YouTube critics pointed to “choppy editing” and “bland action” as major detractors.

Audience reviews vs critic reviews

Audience scores (45% on Rotten Tomatoes) are higher than critic scores (27%), but still mediocre. The gap suggests the film may appeal to fans who are invested in the characters, but fails to win over general audiences. For newcomers, the first film is the only essential watch.

Is there an Old Guard 3 coming?

Official statements from Netflix and producers

As of July 2025, Netflix has made no official announcement regarding a third film. Given the financial and critical performance of the sequel, greenlighting a continuation would be a significant gamble. Pajiba expressed skepticism, stating that a third film is unlikely after such a damaging sequel.

Director and cast availability

Should a third film be commissioned, scheduling Charlize Theron and the returning ensemble would need to align with their growing commitments. The original comic creator, Greg Rucka (comic book writer and series creator), has expressed interest in continuing the story but acknowledges the sequel’s challenges.

Potential timeline based on industry patterns

If Netflix does proceed — perhaps driven by streaming data we do not see — a 2027 or 2028 release would be the earliest plausible window. The five-year gap between the first two films is likely to repeat, if not lengthen. YouTube critics noted the sequel’s “final minutes cut the story off to force a third film,” which may backfire if viewers feel manipulated rather than intrigued.

The catch: Any third film would need to overcome not just creative hurdles but also audience skepticism earned by the sequel.

Why did Andy lose her immortality?

Plot explanation from the first movie

Andromache of Scythia, known as Andy, loses her immortality in the first film after being stabbed by a mysterious weapon — a sword imbued with the power to kill immortals. This revelation is central to the film’s emotional stakes: Andy, the oldest of the group, becomes mortal for the first time in millennia.

Connection to the comics

In Greg Rucka’s original comic series, the rules of immortality are more fluid. The film adaptation tightened the mythology: immortality is tied to a specific origin, and a special weapon is required to break it. This plot point drives the entire narrative of the sequel.

Impact on the character and team dynamics

Andy’s mortality reshapes the team’s dynamics. She must lead without the invincibility that defined her, creating tension and vulnerability. However, Reviews on Reels argued the sequel “does not rekindle the spark of the first film and does not build enough excitement for what comes next,” suggesting this emotional core was mishandled in the transition to screen.

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

What critics are saying

“A glitchy, compromised product.”

— The Rolling Tape review

“The sequel does not rekindle the spark of the first film and does not build enough excitement for what comes next.”

— Reviews on Reels

“A disastrous sequel that lacked heart, humor, and coherent action.”

— Pajiba

“The film dumbs down what was enjoyable about the first movie and becomes difficult to sit through.”

— YouTube film critic

En utförlig analys av varför uppföljaren floppade ger ytterligare perspektiv på de kreativa och kommersiella misstagen.

Frequently asked questions

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The Old Guard franchise is at a crossroads. The original was a rare Netflix win — a smart, violent, character-driven action film that found a global audience. The sequel, by nearly every metric, squandered that goodwill. For Netflix, the decision is simple: let a damaged brand rest, or gamble on a third film that would need to be a creative and commercial miracle. For fans, the choice is clearer: revisit the original, explore the comic series, and hope Hollywood learns the lesson that a sequel needs more than a title to succeed.