Chris Hemsworth’s Most Divisive War Movie With a Hidden True Story Loses Its Streaming Home

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After seven years, the controversial movie 12 Strong is being removed from Netflix at the start of the new year.

I was a little disappointed to learn that Netflix is taking down 12 Strong on January 1st, 2026! It’s currently the only place you can stream it with a subscription, and so far, nobody’s announced where it will be available next. If you’re like me and love this true story about the incredible U.S. Army Special Forces team – with Chris Hemsworth as their commander – sent to Afghanistan after 9/11, you’ll want to watch it soon before it disappears from Netflix!

Chris Hemsworth’s character, Captain Mitch Nelson, is based on the real-life soldier Mark Nutsch. The movie follows Nelson as he leads a team into Afghanistan, where they must work with the Northern Alliance to fight the Taliban and al-Qaeda. They soon discover they are facing overwhelming odds, and Nelson’s team finds themselves in a dangerous battle against ruthless enemies who show no mercy.

Besides Chris Hemsworth, the movie 12 Strong featured other actors known for their roles in comic book films, like Michael Shannon (from Man of Steel) and Michael Peña (Ant-Man). The cast also included Navid Negahban, Trevante Rhodes, Geoff Stults, Thad Luckinbill, Ben O’Toole, William Fichtner, and Rob Riggle.

Despite its exciting story and focus on American heroism, the movie 12 Strong didn’t perform exceptionally well in theaters. It earned over $70 million with a $35 million production cost, competing with films like Call Me by Your Name and I, Tonya. However, critics weren’t as impressed with the film.

The movie 12 Strong has received mixed reviews from critics, earning a 50% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on over 170 reviews. While many praised the cast and the film’s basis in a true story, some critics felt it lacked depth and offered a simplistic portrayal of the War in Afghanistan. However, general audiences seem to enjoy the film more, giving it a 62% approval rating from over 5,000 ratings on Rotten Tomatoes.

Hemsworth’s Role as Capt. Mitch Nelson Made 12 Strong Worth Watching

While critics had differing opinions on 12 Strong, most viewers enjoyed it. Chris Hemsworth was even nominated for a People’s Choice Award for his dramatic performance in the film in 2018, but Jamie Dornan won the award for Fifty Shades Freed. 12 Strong also competed for Top Drama Movie at the People’s Choice Awards that year, but Fifty Shades Freed took home the prize.

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A Rotten Tomatoes reviewer highlighted Chris Hemsworth’s performance as Captain Mitch Nelson and praised the film’s exciting action. They also noted the realistic portrayal of combat, which veterans would likely appreciate.

12 Strong leaves Netflix on Jan. 1, 2026.

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2025-12-26 00:10