“We are the Men in Black, the galaxy defenders”is one of the lines in the title song for the sci-fi comedy Men in Black, which tells you almost everything you need to know about the well-dressed secret organization. But if you don’t just want a superficial idea of the machinations of the men in black, you can delve deeper into the subject on Netflix.
At least for another two weeks, because then the original film as well as Men In Black 2 and Men in Black 3 will disappear from the streaming service’s offering.
Don’t miss it, sci-fi fans: Men in Black trilogy only on Netflix for a short time
In director Barry Sonnenfeld’s Men in Black, hardened Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) recruits a savvy NYPD cop (Will Smith) as Agent J and makes him his new partner in a secret organization that deals with extraterrestrial threats. Using all kinds of futuristic gadgets and plenty of style, they set out to capture an insectoid alien terrorist before he achieves his goal of seizing an incredible energy source.
Sony Pictures
Men in Black
The film, full of amusing alien creatures, cemented Smith, known from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Bad Boys, as a Hollywood superstar and also boosted his rap career. The single from the film was one of the biggest hits of 1997 and is an integral part of the sound of the 90s.
Men in Black: The sequels to the sci-fi hit
In Men in Black 2, Agent J brings his grumpy ex-partner back from his well-earned retirement, which he was able to enjoy without work flashbacks thanks to the memory-erasing flash thingy device. The reason: A plant-based shape-shifter (in the form of Lara Flynn Boyle) is looking for the Light of Zartha – another powerful artifact that seems to have a connection to an old case and pizzeria employee Laura (Rosario Dawson).
Like many sequels of the 90s and 2000s, the sequel stuck almost exactly to the formula of the successful film, but hardly made anything better, so that part 3 had to wait several years.
Sony Pictures
Men in Black 2
It wasn’t until 2012 that Men in Black 3 was released, in which the alien inmate Boris the Beast (Jemaine Clement) breaks out of the maximum security prison to take revenge on Agent K. He does so successfully, but in the past of the 1960s, where Agent J also travels back to in order to save the young K (Josh Brolin).
In 2019, Men in Black: International was released, this time under the direction of F. Gary Gray and with a completely replaced cast led by Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson.
How long will the Men in Black films be available to stream on Netflix?
Men in Black 1 to 3 remain until 10 September 2024 on offer at Netflix before they disappear. You can also find the films on Sky Go and WOW in the flat rate.
Speaking of sci-fi films on Netflix…
Podcast on the end of a Netflix era: Films like Rebel Moon will never be seen again
Netflix is facing a turning point. Films like The Irishman or Rebel Moon are a thing of the past, family-friendly entertainment is in, and at the same time the quality of the films is set to improve. At least that is what some forecasts promise. What is the truth?
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What has gone wrong at Netflix in the last five years? Why are films like Rebel Moon a thing of the past? And what does the future hold? Jenny and Jan Felix raise these and other considerations in their discussion about the end of a Netflix era.