Cameron Diaz is officially back on our screens, and fans can’t stop watching her new film, Back in Action. Teaming up with Jamie Foxx and Andrew Scott, the Netflix action-comedy has become a massive streaming hit in 2025, proving that Diaz’s star power and nostalgia still win hearts, even when the critics aren’t impressed.
According to FlixPatrol, Back in Action racked up around 313 million viewing hours from January to June, making it one of the most-watched movies on Netflix this year. That’s a huge number for a movie that only holds a 30% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Clearly, audiences don’t seem to mind the bad reviews when it means seeing Cameron Diaz back in action.
The table contains details on Back in Action:
Seth Gordon Orchestrated Cameron Diaz’s Comeback in 30% Rated Action Comedy
Well, for fans who were excited to see Cameron Diaz in action, they have director Seth Gordon to thank. After all, the actress’ return to Hollywood in Back in Action wasn’t a magical coincidence; Rather, it was carefully planned by the filmmaker. According to Gordon’s interview with THR, the director, best known for Horrible Bosses, confirmed how he orchestrated Diaz’s comeback.
While the film itself only received a 30% critic score, Seth Gordon managed to do what fans thought was impossible: convince Cameron Diaz to come out of retirement after more than a decade. But it all started with Jamie Foxx. Gordon had already cast him as Matt, a retired CIA agent who wants a peaceful family life. And later on, it was Foxx who suggested hiring Diaz.
I was told that she wasn’t to be considered: ‘She’s fully retired. Don’t even think about it.’ But Jamie, who is friends with [Diaz] and has known her forever, had the first inkling of a possibility or an openness to reading something. They also share a manager, and the two of them got the script to her.
It’s a really unexpected coincidence that the title and some of the themes and her character’s situation [as a retired spy turned mom] lined up with real life. It’s almost as if Back in Action was meant to coax her out of retirement, but I swear it wasn’t. It’s just extraordinary timing and really good fortune and Jamie’s access, frankly.
Turns out, Jamie Foxx planted the idea that Cameron Diaz would be the perfect fit to play Emily, his spy partner and love interest. Now, while the idea sounded exciting, everyone believed Diaz had left acting in 2014 to focus on her personal life and motherhood. Foxx, however, didn’t give up. Because he had known Diaz for years and shared the same manager. So, he personally reached out to her.
And just like that, when Cameron Diaz finally read the script, she saw strange parallels between her character and her real life: a retired spy who returns to action, just like she was a retired actress stepping back into the spotlight. So, eventually, the timing, the theme, and Foxx’s persistence all worked together to make this comeback happen for the legendary actress.
Back in Action Was Marred by Generic Formula and Predictability of the Script
Unfortunately, despite Jamie Foxx and Seth Gordon orchestrating Cameron Diaz’s Hollywood comeback in Back in Action, the film sadly didn’t live up to the hype of Diaz’s big return. Well, the biggest flaw stems from its predictable story. The movie begins with Emily and Matt faking their deaths after one last mission, only to raise their family in secret.
While this could have been an emotional setup, the characters don’t get enough development. Their chemistry feels rushed, and the opening doesn’t give people a strong reason to care about them. Further, as the movie continues, the script continues delivering spy-movie clichés, from ballroom fights to busy street chases.
Meanwhile, although the action looks slick on screen, there’s nothing fresh or surprising. Instead of building tension, the movie spoils itself by sticking too closely to the formulas audiences have seen over and over again. Even scenes between Emily and her daughter or even her mother, played by Glenn Close, failed to add more heart to the story.
By simplifying everything, Back in Action lost the chance to create moments that really stick with the audience. But above all, what hurts most is the waste of talent. Cameron Diaz, Jamie Foxx, Andrew Scott, Kyle Chandler, and Glenn Close all have the ability to shine in a strong story. However, the film doesn’t give them enough space to perform.
Cameron Diaz, in particular, feels underused in her long-awaited comeback. She brings her natural charm, but the script doesn’t let her showcase the energy and spark that made her a superstar. In the end, Back in Action may have been a streaming success, but as a film, it ended up being a missed opportunity.
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Back in Action is currently streaming in the US on Netflix.