You know that feeling when you realize Jason Bateman isn't just the "sarcastic dad" from every 2000s comedy? It’s a bit jarring. One minute he’s Michael Bluth trying to keep a dysfunctional family afloat, and the next, he’s laundering millions in the Ozarks or playing a high-stakes villain. If you’ve been hunting for the new Netflix movie with Jason Bateman, you might actually be looking for Carry-On, which hit the platform late in 2024. Or, more likely, you’ve seen the viral clips of him looking absolutely wrecked—long hair, bruised face, and looking nothing like a suburban father—which belongs to his massive 2025/2026 project, Black Rabbit.
Bateman has basically become the unofficial face of Netflix’s prestige thriller wing. He’s moved past the era of being "that guy from the thing" to becoming a powerhouse director and producer who occasionally decides to remind us he can act circles around most people.
Carry-On: The Movie Everyone Is Binging Right Now
Let’s talk about Carry-On. It’s a tight, 90-minute-ish thriller that feels like a throwback to the 90s, but with modern tech. Taron Egerton plays a TSA agent named Ethan. It’s Christmas Eve. He’s just trying to get through a shift. Then he gets a call.
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Bateman plays the "mysterious traveler" on the other end of that phone. He isn't the hero here. Not even close. He’s the guy blackmailing a kid to let a dangerous package onto a flight. It’s a cold, calculated performance. Honestly, it’s weirdly satisfying to see him lean into his darker side without the moral ambiguity of Marty Byrde. In Carry-On, he’s just... a bad guy. He’s the voice in the ear, the shadow in the airport, and he uses that trademark dry delivery to make threats sound like casual dinner plans.
Why Black Rabbit is the Actual Talk of 2026
While Carry-On is the recent movie, the project currently blowing up social feeds is Black Rabbit. Technically, it’s an eight-episode limited series, but Netflix is marketing it with the scale of a blockbuster feature. If you’ve seen those photos of Bateman looking unkempt and desperate, this is why.
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He’s starring alongside Jude Law. They play brothers. Law is Jake, a guy who owns a high-end New York City hotspot called—you guessed it—Black Rabbit. He’s got the suit, the prestige, and the stress. Then Bateman’s character, Vince, shows up. Vince is the "turbulent" brother. He’s the human equivalent of a hand grenade with the pin pulled out.
The dynamic is being described as The Bear meets Succession, but with a lot more physical danger. Bateman directed the first two episodes himself, bringing back that atmospheric, "something-is-about-to-go-wrong" vibe he perfected in Ozark.
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- The Transformation: Bateman traded his clean-cut look for scruffy hair and a battered face.
- The Cast: It’s a heavy-hitter list including Troy Kotsur and Dagmara Domińczyk.
- The Vibe: High-pressure New York nightlife mixed with criminal debt.
What's Next? Beef Season 2 and Beyond
If you think he’s slowing down after these two, you haven't been paying attention. Bateman is joining the cast of Beef Season 2. Yeah, the show that swept the Emmys. He’s joining David Harbour and Linda Cardellini in a new story about a high-stakes feud. It's expected to drop later in 2026.
He’s also attached to a project called Dark Wire, which is a film about a massive FBI sting operation. He’s set to direct that one for Netflix as well. He’s basically building a mini-empire within the streamer.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to catch up on the new Netflix movie with Jason Bateman and his current streak, here is the most efficient watch order to see his evolution from comedy lead to thriller king:
- Watch Carry-On first. It’s a quick win. It shows his range as a villain and proves he doesn't need to be the "nice guy" to carry a film.
- Move to Black Rabbit. Since it’s a limited series, you can binge it in a weekend. Pay attention to the first two episodes he directed; the camera work is incredibly intentional.
- Keep an eye out for Beef Season 2. It’s the next logical step in his "dark comedy" trajectory.
Basically, the era of "Jason Bateman, the sitcom guy" is officially over. We are firmly in the "Jason Bateman, the gritty auteur" phase, and based on the ratings for Black Rabbit, Netflix isn't letting him go anywhere.