Gunpowder Milkshake

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2:10

Gunpowder Milkshake

R

Released Jul 14, 2021

1h 54m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

60%

Tomatometer

169 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Sam (Karen Gillan) was only 12 years old when her mother Scarlet (Lena Headey), an elite assassin, was forced to abandon her. Sam was raised by The Firm, the ruthless crime syndicate her mother worked for. Now, 15 years later, Sam has followed in her mother’s footsteps and grown into a fierce hit-woman. She uses her “talents” to clean up The Firm’s most dangerous messes. She’s as efficient as she is loyal. But when a high-risk job goes wrong, Sam must choose between serving The Firm and protecting the life of an innocent 8-year-old girl -- Emily (Chloe Colemaan). With a target on her back, Sam has only one chance to survive: Reunite with her mother and her lethal associates: The Librarians (Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh and Carla Gugino). These three generations of women must now learn to trust each other, stand up to The Firm and their army of henchmen, and raise hell against those who could take everything from them.

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Critics Consensus

Though it runs dangerously close to being a pure sugar rush with no substance, Gunpowder Milkshake is a brutal blast that will absorb audiences into its neon-infused universe.

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Audience Says

Gunpowder Milkshake has some decent action sequences, but for the most part, this has all been done before -- and better.

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Charlotte O'Sullivan

London Evening Standard

In a landscape that remains dominated by the likes of Zen knucklehead John Wick, Sam and her gruesome gang are alright with me.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 8, 2021

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Tiresome stuff.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 19, 2021

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Linda Marric

The Jewish Chronicle

Perfectly serviceable, if not terribly original.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 18, 2021

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Joshua Polanski

Boston Hassle

Gunpowder Milkshake is most entertaining when Laurent Demianoff’s fight choreography takes precedence over any dialogue.

Jul 19, 2024

Full Review

Jillian Chilingerian

Offscreen With Jillian

With so many stellar talents in this film, most of them don't get to showcase their talents until the end.

Aug 22, 2023

Full Review

Zach Pope

Zach Pope Reviews

The film is not just one of the best ACTION FILMS of 2021, but just flat out one of the most entertaining. It’s fantastic tone, vibrancy, blood/guts & of course all of the fantastic ladies here. Karen Gillian owns this film.

Jul 26, 2023

Full Review

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Carlos I

Though not terribly memorable, Gunpowder Milkshake is a fun enough action flick that stands out from the flood of "girl-power" action films thanks to its incredibly engaging cast.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/06/25

Full Review

Calvin O

Gunpowder Milkshake tries too hard to be a stylised female John Wick. It needed more inspiration instead of ripping off Hong Kong action movies. It also lacks the heavy duty gunfire which I thought it will be there.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/04/25

Full Review

Samantha F

Absolutely brilliant movie,just finished watching it and will encourage all I know to watch it to.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/22/25

Full Review

Peter B

Jane Wick by someone who didn't see John Wick but thought it was a good idea to make female version. Painful to watch.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/25

Full Review

Andrew M

Corny? Predictable? Maybe but I enjoyed the hell out of this movie. On to the review. "Gunpowder Milkshake" is a visual treat, boasting a stellar cast and a vibrant, action-packed storyline. Karen Gillan absolutely steals the show, delivering a performance that is engaging and entertaining. The film's vibrant tone and slick direction make it one of the most entertaining action flicks of 2021, hands down. However, despite the array of talented actresses, it feels like most of them are waiting in the wings until the final act to truly shine. This slow buildup does detract a bit from the overall impact, but when they finally get their moment, it’s explosive and worth the wait. The movie masterfully blends style and substance, offering a fresh take on the female assassin genre with nods to classics like "Léon" and "La Femme Nikita." The action sequences are nothing short of spectacular, with a delightful mix of blood, guts, and elegant twirling that keep you on the edge of your seat. While the narrative may not be the most compelling, and it's quite by the books and predictable, the film compensates with its eye-catching visuals and dynamic performances. It's a bit like a rollercoaster ride—perhaps not the deepest experience, but undeniably thrilling and a whole lot of fun. In short, "Gunpowder Milkshake" is a dazzling, fun-filled ride that action fans, especially those who enjoy female-driven stories, will undoubtedly appreciate. It’s not perfect, but it’s a bold, entertaining romp that promises and delivers a good time.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/05/25

Full Review

Dan D

An entertaining shoot-em up movie. Who knew a library could be so deadly...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/02/25

Full Review

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Navot Papushado

Director

Karen Gillan

Sam

Lena Headey

Scarlet

Carla Gugino

Madeleine

Michelle Yeoh

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Angela Bassett

Anna May

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New on Netflix in July 2021

Gunpowder Milkshake: Trailer 1

2:10

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Synopsis

Sam (Karen Gillan) was only 12 years old when her mother Scarlet (Lena Headey), an elite assassin, was forced to abandon her. Sam was raised by The Firm, the ruthless crime syndicate her mother worked for. Now, 15 years later, Sam has followed in her mother’s footsteps and grown into a fierce hit-woman. She uses her “talents” to clean up The Firm’s most dangerous messes. She’s as efficient as she is loyal. But when a high-risk job goes wrong, Sam must choose between serving The Firm and protecting the life of an innocent 8-year-old girl -- Emily (Chloe Colemaan). With a target on her back, Sam has only one chance to survive: Reunite with her mother and her lethal associates: The Librarians (Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh and Carla Gugino). These three generations of women must now learn to trust each other, stand up to The Firm and their army of henchmen, and raise hell against those who could take everything from them.

Director: Navot Papushado
Producer: Andrew Rona, Alex Heineman
Screenwriter: Navot Papushado, Ehud Lavski
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: The Picture Company, StudioCanal, Studio Babelsberg, Cine+
Rating: R (Strong Bloody Violence|Language)
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 14, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 14, 2021
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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