Code 8 and its recent sequel are far from the top of Netflix’s original film offerings. The streamer unleashed several superhero shows and movies over the past few years. The first entry fell into the crashing waves of the genre’s oversaturated, gritty backlash period. The sequel dropped quietly on February 28th but quickly rocketed to the top of Netflix’s charts. Code 8: Part II might be a short-lived success, but it deserves some attention.
Code 8: Part II Proves Its Power on Netflix’s Top Ten
Netflix’s Code 8 movies are experiments in worldbuilding first and narratives second. Their alternate reality sees 4% of the population blessed with superpowers. They call them Powers as a proper noun, creating constant incongruous sentences when mentioning them in conversation. Powers have powers, and subsequently, the numerically superior normies subjugate their godlike friends and neighbors. Most Powers live below the poverty line when they aren’t being trafficked by a gang distilling their spinal fluid to produce a street drug. Cops introduced murder robots to keep Powers under control, and the government debates banning Powers altogether. Life is generally terrible. The second film doesn’t improve matters much. The cops bring out robot dogs that secretly execute rogue Powers. The film follows two superhuman criminals, one going straight and the other doubling down, as they try to save a little girl who can turn the tide.
Code 8: Part II feels at home in Netflix’s library. Every streaming service has one or two of these. I’m reminded immediately of Amazon Prime’s Samaritan, a comparable gritty superhero drama borrowing a bit from every existing brand. Netflix’s other superhero project, Jupiter’s Legacy, is on the same spectrum. Code 8 wants to be a superhero heist movie, with some social commentary around the police state and worker’s rights. It doesn’t have the courage of its convictions, but at least it takes some swings. Part II is less focused, dedicating most of its time to the little girl plotline without developing most of the characters involved. The film earned attention worldwide. It’s number one in the United States, but it slides up and down the top ten in various nations. Its predecessor stayed lower on US charts, but its brief theatrical run ensured it streaming attention.
Code 8: Part II acquired a lot of attention for a Netflix-exclusive, relatively low-budget sci-fi superhero offering. The most powerful draw is its stars. Robbie and Stephen Amell have a dedicated fanbase who support anything they appear in, not unlike the stars of Supernatural. If Code 8 and its success prove anything, it’s that the superhero genre is still enduringly popular in the right context. Massive franchise branding weighs down studio projects, where Netflix originals can draw tons of eyes. Netflix will likely pump out a few more superhero films in the coming years. Hopefully, the next few will be more compelling.
