Idris Elba's Brutal Action Thriller Joins Netflix Next Month — 4 Years After Box Office Success

Idris Elba's Beast will arrive on Netflix on April 7, 2026, just four years after a solid performance at the box office.

The film centers around Elba's protagonist, a recently widowed doctor on a trip to South Africa, whose vacation turns into a bloody fight for survival when he crosses paths with a lion on the prowl.

Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, Beast was a moderate commercial success that pulled in $59 million worldwide against a reported budget of $36 million. While perhaps not the blockbuster success Universal Studios were looking for, the film still made an impressive mark given its modest budget and single-location shooting.

Many critics took issue with Beast for its simplistic storytelling and lack of narrative ambition, but general audiences typically enjoyed the film for its fast-paced plot and fun performances. This is reflected in the film's Rotten Tomatoes scores; 68% from critics, 77% from general audiences.

The Independent's review reads: "It’s impossible to argue that Beast doesn’t live up to its promise, because the only promise was another piece of recyclable pop-culture imagery."

FILMHOUNDS wrote: "It's an admirable attempt but audiences who simply want to see Elba duking it out with a lion will be sorely disappointed."

Conversely, InSession Film has a more optimistic view of Beast: "Not every movie is going to change your life. Some of them just have movie stars fighting a creature they could not possibly fight in real life. But, in many of these cases, the movie is just fun."

Beast will officially arrive on Netflix in the United States on April 7, 2026. The film is currently available to stream on Peacock or YouTube TV with a valid subscription.

Alternatively, Beast is available to rent or buy on any major VOD platform, such as Prime Video or Apple TV. Rental prices typically sit at $3.99, while a permanent purchase will cost around $14.99.