Netflix has found its own Sicario-style juggernaut in Facing El Chapo, a gritty crime thriller that has quietly become one of the streamer's most-watched international titles of the year. With 58 million views and counting, the film now stands as Netflix's second-biggest Mexican original of all time, trailing only the 2025 hit Counterstrike. Its sustained success—nine weeks on the global top-10 list—signals a voracious appetite for cartel drama, a trend that bodes well for the upcoming Sicario 3.
A Streaming Powerhouse
Based on the real-life traffic stop that led to the capture of drug lord Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán, Facing El Chapo has resonated with audiences far beyond Mexico. The film added 1.3 million views in its ninth week on the chart, pushing its total to 58 million. To crack Netflix's all-time top 10 for non-English films, it needs roughly 4 million more—a milestone that seems within reach given its momentum. If it sustains this pace, it could surpass Counterstrike's 69 million views and claim the top spot among Mexican originals.
The Sicario Connection
The success of Facing El Chapo is a testament to the enduring appeal of the crime genre, a space that Sicario helped define. While neither Sicario nor its sequel Sicario: Day of the Soldado crossed the $100 million mark at the global box office, both have enjoyed long lives on premium video-on-demand, proving that audiences crave this kind of high-stakes storytelling. That home-viewing popularity has greenlit a third installment, set to begin production in 2027.
What to Expect from Sicario 3
The new film will reunite Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, and Josh Brolin, but with a fresh creative team. Taylor Sheridan, who wrote the original, and directors Denis Villeneuve and Stefano Sollima are not returning. Instead, Padraic McKinley—who impressed with his debut The Weight—will direct from a script by Steven Knight, the prolific writer behind Peaky Blinders and the upcoming James Bond reboot. The franchise has already grossed over $170 million worldwide, and with the streaming success of similar titles, Sicario 3 is poised to be a major event.
A Genre That Keeps Delivering
The rise of Facing El Chapo underscores a broader trend: crime thrillers are dominating streaming charts. Netflix has capitalized on this with a slate of international originals, and the platform's data suggests that viewers are hungry for more. For fans of Sicario, the wait for the next chapter may feel long, but the success of films like Facing El Chapo proves that the genre's appeal is far from fading.
As Facing El Chapo continues its chart run, it's worth noting that Netflix's algorithm rewards consistency. The film's staying power is a clear signal to the streamer that audiences want more stories from the region. Meanwhile, Sicario 3 is already generating buzz, and with a 2027 production start, fans have plenty of time to revisit the originals—or dive into Facing El Chapo if they haven't already.
For more on the streaming landscape, check out our coverage of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners' record-breaking season and Russell Crowe's Unabomber film. And if you're in the mood for another crime thriller, The East Palace is a supernatural twist on the genre.
