Project Power

Project Power (2020) is a sci-fi action thriller directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, centered on a mysterious pill that grants unpredictable superpowers for five minutes. Starring Jamie Foxx as ex-soldier Art, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as cop Frank, and breakout star Dominique Fishback as teen dealer Robin, the film unfolds in New Orleans. It follows their hunt for the source of the pill as it wreaks havoc in vulnerable communities—a concept that blends high stakes and street-level grit. Produced on a budget of approximately $85 million, the movie was released by Netflix on August 14, 2020. It drew massive streaming numbers, topping Netflix’s charts for its first two weeks and reaching around 75 million households in its opening month. Roger Ebert+2 Critically, Project Power received mixed reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 60% critic score (46% audience rating), while Metacritic displays a middling score around 51/100. Praise focused on its entertaining action scenes, stylized visuals, and Fishback’s standout performance. Critics like Justin Chang called it “slickly directed” but also “generic,” noting it “recycles shopworn ideas” without pushing thematic depth.RogerEbert.com described it as “a wasted premise” that leaned toward generic action rather than exploring its rich social subtext, while the LA Times appreciated its “larger budget” and body-horror visuals but felt it lacked narrative impact. Despite its narrative flaws, Project Power impresses visually and carries solid performances—especially from Fishback, whose portrayal brings emotional resonance to the high-concept story. It's a flashy, fast-paced ride that entertains even when it shies away from deeper questions about power, addiction, and responsibility—making it a solid binge-watch, though perhaps not one with lasting impact. youtube.com+7