A lot of pandemic-era streaming movies got swallowed up by the moment they were released. Greyhound has avoided that fate. Over time, Tom Hanks’ lean, no-nonsense WWII thriller has built a stronger reputation, and now it’s getting another boost just as its sequel starts to feel real. That’s the kind of timing Apple would have wanted if it could have planned the whole thing itself.
The film has been drawing renewed attention on Apple TV in recent days, helped in part by growing interest in Greyhound 2, which is now in production with Hanks and Stephen Graham returning. That has put the original back in front of viewers who either missed it the first time or are only now realizing how effective it is.
The cast includes Hanks as Commander Ernest Krause and Graham as Charlie Cole. What makes Greyhound work is how stripped-down it is. There’s very little wasted motion, and that’s part of why it plays so well on streaming. Ahead of the sequel, it’s turning into the kind of war movie people are recommending all over again.
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Is ‘Greyhound’ Worth Watching?
Collider’s review stated that Greyhound is a very simple movie, but it does exactly what it sets out to do. Instead of building a big emotional story around its crew, it drops viewers straight into a World War II naval mission and stays locked in on the danger. The result is a tight, tense thriller that feels focused from start to finish. What really works here is the action. Director Aaron Schneider keeps the battles clear, urgent, and easy to follow, even when the naval language gets dense. The movie does a great job of making the combat feel immediate and real. It pulls you into the middle of the fight and keeps you there.
“Some viewers may want more meat on the bones of Greyhound. They may care about the personal lives of the crewmembers and need that entry point to be invested in their story. I get that, but for me, Greyhound is a thrilling and captivating ride that brings a fresh perspective to a World War II story that feels like it could use some more attention. Schneider and Hanks wanted to put the viewer in the middle of the action, and they accomplished exactly that with their straightforward, unvarnished military drama.”
Greyhound is streaming now.
Release Date
July 9, 2020
Runtime
92 minutes
Director
Aaron Schneider