Netflix has made good on its promise of a sequel to its 2020 action film, The Old Guard, but unfortunately, it doesn’t live up to the standard set by the original. With a critic score of just 25% and an audience score of 42%, the sequel is a significant drop from the first film’s 80% and 71% scores on Rotten Tomatoes.
The change in director seems to be a major factor in the decline. Gina Prince-Bythewood, who directed the original, is no longer at the helm. Instead, Victoria Mahoney takes over, bringing only two TV episode credits to her resume. While it’s difficult to pinpoint blame solely on her, the shift in creative leadership is notable.
Despite this, The Old Guard 2 still managed to debut at #1 on Netflix and maintain its position for a few days. Charlize Theron remains a bankable star, and the film’s release has even caused the original to re-enter the top 10 list five years after its initial release.
However, it’s unclear if this initial success will sustain itself in the long term. The sequel’s poor reception makes a third installment unlikely, even with strong viewership. It’s disappointing that Netflix didn’t live up to expectations, especially given their track record of following through on promised sequels.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2025/07/04/the-old-guard-2-hits-netflix-with-disastrous-rotten-tomatoes-scores