Netflix's 2-Part Dystopian Sci-Fi Thriller Is a Perfect Weekend Binge

Published May 18, 2026, 1:48 PM EDT Collier Jennings is an entertainment journalist with a substantial amount of experience under his belt. Collier, or "CJ" to his friends and family, is a dedicated fan of genre films - particularly science fiction, fantasy and comic book adaptations, not to mention all forms of animation animation. This stems from a close bond with his father, who introduced him to these genres via copies of X-Men comics and reruns of the original Ultraman series. Using his near-encyclopedic knowledge and bottomless love of genre, he's been able to tackle a wide variety of articles. Ever since Sam Raimi's first Spider-Man movie spun a web of blockbuster riches, Hollywood has been determined to tackle every story that the world of comic books has to offer. It's specifically focused on superhero stories; over the past 20 years, the genre hasseen the rise of blockbuster franchises, including the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy, as well as sharply crafted subversions like Invincible. Netflix has an underrated franchise that takes a fresh approach to superpowers, thanks to Code 8 and its sequel, Code 8: Part II. The Code 8 movies take place in a world where 4% of the population has superpowers; due to a rise in automation, most "Powers" wind up working off-the-book jobs or turning to crime. Connor Reed (Robbie Amell) finds himself in such a position when he's approached by Garrett Kelton (Stephen Amell), a member of the superpowered crime syndicate known as the Trust. Garrett needs Connor's electrical powers for a series of heists, and Connor agrees to help in exchange for enough money to pay for his mother's medical care. What follows is a pair of movies that combine the high-stakes tension of a crime thriller with the science-fiction trappings and social commentary often found in comics like X-Men. The 'Code 8' Franchise Thrives Thanks to Deep Character & World Building Image via Netflix Watching the Code 8 movies reveals just how much thought director/co-writer Jeff Chan and co-writer Chris Paré put into this world. Automation eventually leads to the creation of mechanical "Guardians" meant to suppress superpowered crime, which often happens when the titular "Code 8" is called in. Powers are mistreated to the point where a drug named "Psyke", which is harvested from their spinal fluid, starts pulling in cash on the black market. Unlike other superpowered stories, where having great abilities often leads to becoming a hero, the world of Code 8 shows that superpowers can sometimes be less a fantasy and more a living nightmare. A great premise doesn't mean much if you don't have great characters to back it up. Thankfully, Code 8 succeeds in this regard by showcasing how similar, and how different, Connor and Garrett are. While they both use their abilities to try to climb the rungs of society's ladder, they're doing it for entirely different reasons. Connor just wants to make sure his mom is healthy and thriving, while Garrett seeks to run the Trust. Eventually, their goals place them in opposition to each other, a conflict that deepens in Code 8 Part II. The Amells were no stranger to genre fare thanks to their roles on Arrow and The Flash, but Code 8 shows that they could bring that same level of dedication to original fare. Related The 35 Best Movie Franchises to Binge Watch We've selected only the best of the best – the film series with the most good/great movies and least bad ones. 'Code 8' Is Returning to Its Roots for A New Project While Netflix is home to the Code 8 movies, the original concept was actually born out of a short movie launched by Robbie & Stephen Amell in 2016. The Amells launched an Indiegogo campaign afterward, hoping to raise $200,000 dollars for a feature-length movie. They wound up pulling in $3.4 million, and after Code 8 debuted to an impressive critical reception, plans were made to expand the movie into a franchise. A planned television series went into limbo when Quibi went under, but Netflix eventually gained the rights to Code 8: Part II. While a third installment has yet to be announced, a new project is returning to Code 8's roots in more ways than one. Last year, Robbie & Stephen Amell launched both a Kickstarter and an Indiegogo campaign forCode 8: Tales of Lincoln City, a pair of graphic novels that will delve further into Connor and Garrett's lives. The campaign was a massive success, pulling in over $65,000 and an incredible roster of talent, including artistsAlex Nieto (Hellboy) and Tom Mueller, who handled the design work for the iconic "Age of Krakoa" in the X-Men comics. Robbie Amell expressed his excitement to continue telling stories in the world of Code 8 when the campaign was first announced: "Code 8 has always felt bigger than just a film. Getting to tell my character’s origin story as a graphic novel is such a full-circle moment for me. And the best part is, we get to do it alongside the fans who made this world a reality." The Code 8 movies are proof that there are still stories left to tell in the world of superpowers, and that you don't have to break the bank to bring them to life. If you're dreading a world without The Boys or looking for something that will whet your appetite for Avengers: Doomsday, Code 8 is only a click away on Netflix. Release Date December 6, 2019 Runtime 100 minutes Director Jeff Chan Writers Chris Pare, Jeff Chan