{"id":190009,"date":"2025-08-30T17:30:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-30T17:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/30\/netflix-is-losing-this-underrated-2018-crime-thriller-starring-a-movie-legend\/"},"modified":"2025-08-30T17:30:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-30T17:30:15","slug":"netflix-is-losing-this-underrated-2018-crime-thriller-starring-a-movie-legend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/30\/netflix-is-losing-this-underrated-2018-crime-thriller-starring-a-movie-legend\/","title":{"rendered":"Netflix Is Losing This Underrated 2018 Crime Thriller Starring a Movie Legend"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>As August draws to a close, <a href=\"https:\/\/usmagazine.com\/media-network\/netflix\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Netflix<\/a> will be shuffling its lineup \u2014 bringing in plenty of new movies but also taking out some others.<\/p>\n<p>One of those films leaving is <em>The Mule<\/em>, a 2018 thriller directed by and starring the legendary <a href=\"https:\/\/usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/clint-eastwood\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Clint Eastwood<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you\u2019d be rewatching it or seeing it for the first time, <em>The Mule is<\/em> a gripping film with an incredible backstory that\u2019s definitely worth checking out before it exits the streamer on August 31.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s why the <a href=\"https:\/\/usmagazine.com\/watch-with-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Watch With Us<\/a> team thinks you should watch <em>The Mule<\/em> now.\n<\/p>\n<h3>It\u2019s Inspired by an Unbelievable True Story<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The mule 2018 Earl does his first drug run scene\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Qzi1uZ-QlZU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><em>The Mule<\/em> tells the story of Earl Stone, a veteran and horticulturist who becomes a drug mule for a Mexican cartel, transporting thousands of dollars worth of drugs across the state of Illinois. While this may seem bizarre, it\u2019s actually based on the life of a real man \u2014 <strong>Leo Sharp<\/strong>, who at the age of 90 became a mule for the Sinaloa cartel. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2014\/06\/15\/magazine\/the-sinaloa-cartels-90-year-old-drug-mule.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">An article in <em>The New York Times<\/em> about Sharp<\/a> caught Hollywood\u2019s attention, eventually leading to the film adaptation.<\/p>\n<p>While Earl is a fictionalized version of the character, the real-world roots of <em>The Mule\u2019s<\/em> story make it all the more engrossing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"link-related article link-related__with-thumb\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"article__thumbnail related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/5-must-watch-netflix-movies-that-are-perfect-to-stream-in-the-summer-2025\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"00\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"article__figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%;\" class=\"ratio-based-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article__content\">\n<h3 class=\"article__title\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"article__title-link related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/5-must-watch-netflix-movies-that-are-perfect-to-stream-in-the-summer-2025\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"00\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"related-badge\">Related: <\/span><span class=\"related-title\">5 Must-Watch Netflix Movies to Stream in the Summer<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n\t\t\tIf there\u2019s ever a time to stay home with Netflix instead of braving the heat in theaters, it\u2019s this summer. Thanks to some carefully curated films, Netflix has a handful of blockbuster movies from other studios that still hold up favorably compared to what\u2019s playing this summer. To kick off a new seasonal tradition, the [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>It\u2019s a Story of Redemption<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3980005\" style=\"width: 900px;\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\n<div class=\"ratio-based-placeholder\" style=\"padding-bottom:56.142857142857%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3980005\" src=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-mule-1.jpg?w=1000&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all\" alt=\"An old man stands in a backyard in 'The Mule.'\" width=\"1000\" height=\"562\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-mule-1.jpg?w=100&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 100w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-mule-1.jpg?w=200&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-mule-1.jpg?w=300&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-mule-1.jpg?w=400&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 400w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-mule-1.jpg?w=500&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 500w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-mule-1.jpg?w=600&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 600w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-mule-1.jpg?w=700&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 700w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-mule-1.jpg?w=800&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 800w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-mule-1.jpg?w=900&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 900w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-mule-1.jpg?w=1000&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 1000w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-mule-1.jpg?w=1200&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) calc(100vw - 6em), (max-width: 1000px) 80vw, 1000px\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"caption\"><br \/>\n An old man stands in a backyard in \u2018The Mule.\u2019<\/span> <span class=\"credit\">Warner Bros.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Throughout his life, Earl grew more and more obsessed with work and distanced himself from his loved ones. Though his decision to become a mule leads him down a dark path, it\u2019s a path with many twists \u2014 and one that ultimately brings him closer to his family. Without spoiling too much, we\u2019ll just say that Earl\u2019s journey is a redemptive one \u2014 and surprisingly uplifting.<\/p>\n<h3>It\u2019s a Crime Thriller With a Stellar Cast<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"THE MULE - Official Trailer\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/N_QksSzK7sI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div id=\"news-block\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form  \">\n<div class=\"newsletter-signup__success\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<h3>Thank You!<\/h3>\n<p>You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>One of the most intriguing elements of the story is the relationship between Earl and Colin Bates (<a href=\"https:\/\/usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/bradley-cooper\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Bradley Cooper<\/strong><\/a>), the DEA Agent tasked with finding him. The DEA and the cartel, led by Gustavo (<strong>Clifton Collins Jr<\/strong>.), are two conflicting forces constantly putting pressure on Earl. In the meantime, his family \u2014 ex-wife Mary (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrity-news\/news\/dianne-wiest-oscar-winner-says-shes-having-trouble-paying-rent-2015261\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Dianne Wiest<\/strong><\/a>), daughter Iris (<strong>Alison Eastwood<\/strong>) and granddaughter Ginny (<strong>Taissa Farmiga<\/strong>) \u2014 serve as both a motivation and an excuse to continue his behavior.<\/p>\n<div class=\"link-related article link-related__with-thumb\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"article__thumbnail related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/4-must-watch-drama-movies-that-are-perfect-to-stream-in-the-summer-2025\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"00\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"article__figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%;\" class=\"ratio-based-placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/where-the-crawdads-sing.jpg?w=400&amp;h=225&amp;crop=1&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 400px, (max-width: 770px) calc(100vw - 6em), 200px\" alt=\"Daisy Edgar-Jones and Harris Dickinson in Where the Crawdads Sing\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" data-fallback-img=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/where-the-crawdads-sing.jpg?quality=86&amp;strip=all\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article__content\">\n<h3 class=\"article__title\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"article__title-link related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/4-must-watch-drama-movies-that-are-perfect-to-stream-in-the-summer-2025\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"00\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"related-badge\">Related: <\/span><span class=\"related-title\">4 Must-Watch Drama Movies That Are Perfect to Stream in the Summer<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n\t\t\tMost people think \u201cfun\u201d when they think \u201csummer,\u201d but that doesn\u2019t mean the season can\u2019t bring its share of drama. From first heartbreaks to tension under a hot sun, these movies all feature excellent performances with serious emotional highs and lows. Watch With Us recommends these four movies, starring actors like Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet, Steven Yeun [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>What makes <em>The Mule<\/em> stand out is the way it blends tense cartel drama with heartfelt family moments. The scenes between Earl and his family add emotional stakes that balance the crime-driven plot, reminding us that the consequences of his actions extend beyond himself. The performances are top-notch across the board \u2014 the film also features\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/laurence-fishburne\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Laurence Fishburne<\/a>, Andy Garcia<\/strong> and <strong>Michael Pe\u00f1a<\/strong> \u2014 making the movie both thrilling, captivating and unexpectedly moving.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.netflix.com\/watch\/81035551\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Watch\u00a0<em>The Mule<\/em> on Netflix now.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/netflix-is-losing-this-underrated-2018-thriller-starring-a-movie-legend\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As August draws to a close, Netflix will be shuffling its lineup \u2014 bringing in plenty of new movies but also taking out some others. One of those films leaving is The Mule, a 2018 thriller directed by and starring the legendary Clint Eastwood. Whether you\u2019d be rewatching it or seeing it for the first [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":190012,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-190009","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/190009","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=190009"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/190009\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/190012"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=190009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=190009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=190009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}