He’s back. Finally. After years of delays, reshoots, and a global pandemic that felt like it would never end, the Tom Hardy new Netflix movie is here, and honestly, it’s exactly the kind of beautiful, bone-crunching mess we expected. Havoc isn't just another action flick to have on in the background while you fold laundry. It’s a relentless, 107-minute endurance test directed by Gareth Evans—the man who basically reinvented modern action with The Raid.
If you’ve been following the production of this one, you know it was a long road. Like, a really long road. Filming wrapped back in 2021 in Wales, of all places. Then it vanished. For years, fans were asking if it was even still coming out. Well, it hit the platform on April 25, 2025, and the internet has been arguing about it ever since.
Some people love the raw, "heroic bloodshed" vibe. Others? They’re complaining they can’t see what’s happening because it’s so dark.
What’s the Deal With the Plot?
Tom Hardy plays Walker. He’s a "bruised" detective—which is movie code for "this guy hasn't slept in three years and definitely has a drinking problem." He’s basically a fixer who gets paid off by a mayoral candidate, Lawrence Beaumont (played by the legendary Forest Whitaker), to find his estranged son.
The kid, Charlie, messed up. A drug deal went south, and now he's stuck in the middle of a war between Chinese gangsters, crooked cops, and a vengeful crime syndicate. Walker has to navigate this "broken city" over two nights just before Christmas.
"It's not really a Christmas movie," Evans quipped during the Netflix UK showcase. "As you would expect from me!"
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It’s gritty. It’s mean. And yeah, Tom Hardy does an accent. You’ve come to expect that by now, right? It’s sort of a gravelly, American-ish growl that fits a guy who spends most of the movie getting punched in the face.
The Action is the Main Event
If you’re here for a deep, philosophical exploration of the human condition, you’re in the wrong place. Havoc is about the "balletic style" of violence. Gareth Evans doesn't do "master shots" where the camera just sits there. He breaks action into "jigsaw pieces." Every punch and gunshot is choreographed to the millisecond.
There’s a specific shootout in a salvage yard—owned by Luis Guzmán’s character, Raul—that is honestly one of the best things Hardy has filmed in years. It’s pure John Woo excess. Bullets flying, people jumping through car windows, and absolute chaos.
Why the Reviews are So Weird
Currently, Havoc is sitting with a decent 64% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but the audience score is... let's say "divisive." It’s hovering around 35% to 48%.
Why the split?
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- The Lighting: This is a big one. It’s a very dark movie. Not just "thematic" dark, but "I need to turn my TV brightness to 100" dark.
- The Violence: It never stops. For some, it’s a "love letter" to 90s Hong Kong action. For others, it’s just relentless noise.
- The Script: Critics like the style. Audiences seem a bit bored by the "crooked politician" plot, which we've seen a thousand times before.
Honestly, though? It’s the Tom Hardy new Netflix movie. People are going to watch it regardless of what the "Popcornmeter" says. In its first week, it racked up over 154 million hours of views. That’s massive. It proves that even if people are complaining on Twitter (or X, whatever), they’re still hitting play.
The Cast is Stacked
Hardy and Whitaker get the most screen time, but the supporting cast is what keeps the movie from feeling like a generic B-movie.
- Timothy Olyphant: He plays Vincent, a corrupt narcotics cop. It’s a far cry from his "straight-shooter" role in Justified. He’s oily, dangerous, and clearly having a blast.
- Jessie Mei Li: Known for Shadow and Bone, she plays Ellie, a rookie cop and Walker’s partner. She actually copied Hardy’s walk during filming to show their "kinship."
- Yeo Yann Yann: She plays "Mother," a Triad boss seeking revenge. She’s terrifying.
What Most People Get Wrong About Havoc
There’s a misconception that this was a "troubled" production because of the four-year delay. While it did need reshoots, Gareth Evans actually says the delay helped. The SAG-AFTRA strike and scheduling conflicts gave him years to sit in the edit suite.
He tightened the first act. He trimmed a subplot about Walker’s wife to keep the pacing "tight as a drum." The final cut is 105 minutes (107 if you count the credits). In an era of three-hour superhero epics, that brevity is a blessing.
Future Plans: Is There a Sequel?
Netflix hasn't officially greenlit Havoc 2 yet. However, the numbers don't lie. Being the fifth most-watched movie on the platform in the first half of 2025 is a strong argument for a franchise.
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As for Hardy, his plate is full. He’s got an Oslo-set thriller with Aaron Taylor-Johnson coming up, and rumors are swirling about a Guy Ritchie project called The Associate. But for now, Havoc is his big return to non-superhero action. It’s his first "pure" action movie since Mad Max: Fury Road back in 2015.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Viewing
If you haven't seen the Tom Hardy new Netflix movie yet, do yourself a favor:
- Check your settings: Turn off "Motion Smoothing" on your TV. This movie is meant to look gritty, not like a soap opera.
- Turn up the sound: The sound design is incredible. The gunshots actually sound like they have weight.
- Watch it at night: Because of the lighting issues mentioned earlier, watching this in a bright room during the day is a recipe for frustration.
Havoc isn't a masterpiece of storytelling, but it is a masterclass in action choreography. It’s brutal, loud, and unapologetically violent. Whether you love the "heroic bloodshed" genre or find it too much, you can’t deny that Hardy gives it 100%. He’s a brawler, and in Havoc, he finally has a playground that lets him get dirty.
Actionable Next Step: Open your Netflix app and check the "Top 10" list. If Havoc is still there, add it to your list and wait for nightfall. Ensure your room is dark and your sound system is ready for some serious bass before you hit play.