Amazon Prime’s ‘amazing’ new crime thriller jumps to top of streaming charts

Edward (FREDDIE HIGHMORE)
Freddie Highmore stars in The Assassin (Picture: Amazon Prime Video)

The Assassin, which was released on Amazon Prime Video last month, has leapt to the top of the platform’s streaming charts.

The action thriller stars Keeley Hawes as titular assassin Julie, who reunites with her estranged son (Edward, played by Freddie Highmore) after he tracks her down with questions about her past.

The pair soon become entangled in a high-octane, high-stakes conspiracy when her past catches up with her.

With a huge target on their backs, mother and son are forced to go on the run, in an ambitious plot Metro’s own Sabrina Barr describes as ‘Mamma Mia combined with Taken.’

Released on July 25, the series earned rave reviews for its ‘entertaining action’ and shocking twists.

This has helped The Assassin to fend off heavy hitters like Clarkson’s Farm, The Summer I Turned Pretty and Neighbours in the battle of the UK streaming charts.

Julie (KEELEY HAWES)
Keeley Hawes plays Julie, the eponymous assassin (Picture: Amazon Prime Video)
Freddie Highmore and Keeley Hawes in The Assassin
Estranged mother and son Edward and Julie are reunited in a thrilling adventure (Picture: Amazon Prime Video)

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As per a report by Flixpatrol, The Assassin has become the most streamed piece of entertainment on Amazon Prime, beating 2023’s Barbie and the Eddie Murphy vehicle The Pickup on its journey to supremacy.

The Assassin is currently sitting at a 92% ‘Fresh’ rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, with Empire Magazine praising its ‘cutthroat action’ and ‘cutting’ dynamic between its stars.

Elsewhere, The Guardian described it as ‘so much fun,’ while The Telegraph called it ‘Mamma Mia! with a sniper rifle.’

Julie (KEELEY HAWES) and Edward (FREDDIE HIGHMORE)
Julie and Edward are forced to work together when they’re pursued by figures from her past (Picture: Amazon Prime Video)

While the audience score is more divided at 38%, those who enjoyed the show have responded well to its dark sense of humour and explosive action.

‘Super fun. If you liked the tourist you’ll like this series. Dark quirky humour with lots of action. This isn’t for everyone you’ll need to be able to think on your feet to enjoy the ride!’ wrote Rotten Tomatoes user Kay M.

‘This was fun, exciting and thrilling. I wished it lasted longer,’ said Yeremiah A.

Sas B chimed in: ‘I loved this – the acting is amazing, the characters and situations fairly hilarious.. it’s a dark comedy! More please!’

GINA GERSHON stars as Marie.
Gina Gershon also stars as mysterious Marie (Picture: Amazon Prime Video)
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Speaking on the blend of comedy and action, Freddie told Metro: ‘[The humour’s] not too broad or too silly, but it complements the seriousness of it and gives it a bit of texture and nuance, and also keeps it quite real,’ Freddie outlines.

‘The characters are all accessible and approachable and definitely make mistakes. Even with Keeley’s character, who’s incredibly accomplished at what she does, the show doesn’t try to make her impossibly perfect.

‘I think a part of that is the sense of humour and that British dose of self-deprecation.’

Julie (KEELEY HAWES)
Keeley learned to assemble a sniper rifle for the role (Picture: Amazon Prime)

Meanwhile, Line of Duty and Finding Alice star Keeley has weighed in on her turn as the titular assassin, describing herself as ‘basically the new Tom Cruise.’

Reacting to the description of her character as a ‘perimenopausal James Bond’ she told The Observer: ‘When I saw that line in the script, I howled with laughter. You even glimpse her popping HRT pills. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in a drama before.

Going into the specifics of her action hero training she revealed: ‘I had weapons training. There’s a scene where I assemble a sniper rifle in a slick way. It’s worryingly easy, actually. Even if you put the components of a rifle in front of me now, a year later, I could probably do it quite quickly. It’s a bit like riding a bike.’

The Assassin is now available to watch on Prime Video in the UK & Ireland.

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