Elite Soldiers vs. the Cartel
The story kicks off when five friends courageously step in to stop a woman and her daughter from being kidnapped by gangsters. But their heroics have consequences. Their act quickly draws them into the dangerous world of a powerful cartel. The twist? These aren’t ordinary friends—they’re elite operatives from Mexico’s Special Forces, the Murciélagos. Their lethal skills and reputation for being nearly unstoppable mean the cartel quickly regrets targeting them.
The Team Behind the Hit
Directed by Chava Cartas, best known for the action series Rosario Tijeras, Counterattack (original title Contraataque, also called Counterstrike) stars Luis Alberti (Workforce), Leonardo Alonso (New Order), Luis Curiel (Control Z), Guillermo Nava (I’m Not Afraid), and David Calderón León (C.I.A.) as the formidable squad. Their tactical expertise and combat skills make them a force even John Wick would think twice about crossing.
Record-Shattering Streaming Numbers
Upon its debut, Counterattack quickly surged in popularity, drawing 18.6 million views in just its first three days on Netflix, according to the platform’s Complete View Equivalent metric. The film has since established itself as one of Netflix’s biggest releases, now ranking number eight among the Top 10 Most Popular Non-English Movies worldwide. At the time of writing, it has amassed 66,900,000 views and 94,800,000 hours watched globally, according to official Netflix data. That puts it in league with other international blockbusters like Ad Vitam, Exterritorial, Under Paris, Society of the Snow, and Troll.
Critical Response and Fan Approval
Despite its huge audience, Counterattack has mostly flown under critics’ radar and still has not gathered enough reviews to secure an official Rotten Tomatoes rating. However, some reviewers have praised director Chava Cartas and his team for squeezing creative, high-impact set pieces into the film’s compact runtime, noting:
“In a runtime of 85 minutes, he [Chava Cartas] and his team have packed in so many creative moments that it puts every other bloated action ‘epic' to shame.”
Audiences, on the other hand, have been vocal with their approval. The film holds a solid 67% on the Popcornmeter, with viewers calling it “excellent,” “engaging,” and a “must watch.” Its brisk 85-minute length has made it especially appealing for action fans and anyone looking for a thrilling, no-filler ride that gets right to the point.
If you’re after non-stop action where the underdogs are anything but ordinary and the cartel can’t catch a break, Counterattack is well worth queuing up. But beware: these are not the kind of heroes you’d want to tangle with unless you’re sure what’s behind you.
