Keanu Reeves Action Thriller ‘Point Break’ Leaves Netflix Soon

Attention all fans of ’90’s cinema and off-the-wall action, please take note: Point Break is leaving Netflix on December 1st of this year. The film — which stars Keanu Reeves as FBI agent Johnny Utah and Patrick Swayze as surfer and criminal Bodhi — is essential viewing for anyone who likes action that leaves you at the edge of your seat, and incredibly compelling character dynamics that pull you into a world of thievery done just for the thrill of it.

Rather than simply being a conventional game of cat-and-mouse between cop and robber — such as venerated classics like Michael Mann’s Heat— Point Break is groundbreaking in its commitment to entangling Reeves’ character Johnny with the mastermind Bodhi. The criminal has an alluring philosophy, one of constantly chasing the ultimate thrill, and it draws the undercover cop into their dangerous lifestyle. The unconventional nature of the two leads’ relationship, paired with the stunning action, makes Point Break essential viewing for Netflix subscribers (until it eventually makes its way onto a different streaming service, and/or returns back to Netflix sometime later).

‘Point Break’ Combines Strong Existential Themes With Pulse-Pounding Action

There are plenty of memorable moments in Point Break worth revisiting. Whether it is the chase scenes throughout the city of Los Angeles, the intense skydiving scene, or the storm surfing finale that leaves Johnny disillusioned with the institution he works for, there are so many scenes worth experiencing again (or for the first time) from this breathtaking action film. Moreover, the film works as an early example of the groundbreaking directorial career Kathryn Bigelow would go on to achieve.

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, Point Break would be a testament to the future Best Director Oscar Winner’s talent at exploring the ways in which people seek to reckon with themselves and their longing for confronting danger, as she again would in her 2008 film The Hurt Locker. Being the first woman ever to win the Academy Award in the director category, Point Break is also the perfect film to stream if you’re looking to delve more into the early days of Bigelow’s work and the themes that she would explore in more detail in later films.

And of course, there’s the Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze of it all — their chemistry onscreen is dynamic and will have viewers captivated from beginning to end. After seeing Reeves’ resurgence in the action movie landscape with the John Wick movies and a Matrix sequel, re-watching Point Break before it leaves Netflix can help remind viewers of just how far the actor has come in his career, and how, even in his younger days, the actor has had an eye for captivating action roles that are as profound as they are entertaining.

Whether watching Point Break for the first time, or re-watching it to experience the thrills all over again, now is as good a time as any if you’re subscribed to Netflix. However, there’s no need to worry—unlike the “50-year storm” that Bodhi talks about during the film, there are other ways to experience the adrenaline rush that is Point Break, as it is available for purchase on digital platforms as well as on 4K UHD Blu-ray.

Point Break

Director

Kathryn Bigelow

Cast

Keanu Reeves , Patrick swayze , Lori Petty , Gary Busey , John C. McGinley , James Le Gros , John Philbin , BoJesse Christopher , Chris Pedersen , Julian Reyes , Daniel Beer , Vincent Klyn , Anthony Kiedis , Lee Tergesen , Dave Olson , Christopher Pettiet , Sydney Walsh , Tom Sizemore , Dino Andino , Michael Kopelow , Julie Michaels , Mike Genovese , Jack Kehler , Galyn Görg , Raymond Forchion

Release Date

January 31, 1991

Runtime

122 minutes

Writers

W. Peter Iliff

Character(s)

Johnny Utah , Bodhi , Tyler Ann Endicott , Angelo Pappas , Ben Harp , Roach , Nathanial , Grommet , Bunker , Alvarez , Babbit , Warchild , Tone , Rosie , Archbold , 15 , Miss Deer , Deets , Psycho-Stick , Passion for Slashin , Freight Train , Corey , Halsey , Margarita , Neighbor

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