Netflix Quietly Removes Crime Thriller 'The Infiltrator' This Week

Netflix is removing Brad Furman's The Infiltrator from its United States catalog on May 7, but fans will soon be able to find this popular crime thriller elsewhere.

Starring Bryan Cranston as real-life undercover agent Robert Mazur, The Infiltrator tells the true story of a United States Customs Service Special Agent who went undercover as a corrupt businessman in the 1980s to help bust Pablo Escobar's money-laundering operation in Colombia.

The film is based on Mazur's autobiography of the same name, which received countless awards for its transparent, honest, and vulnerable depiction of this historic achievement by the U.S. Special Forces.

Despite strong reviews upon release, The Infiltrator unfortunately didn't leave much of a dent at the box office in 2016. The film made roughly $21 million worldwide, which wasn't quite enough to turn a profit (via Box Office Mojo). Its budget was reportedly between $28 million and $40 million.

The Infiltrator also stars Juliet Aubrey, Diane Kruger, John Leguizamo, Benjamin Bratt, Jason Isaacs, and Amy Ryan.

Thankfully, that box office failure wasn't representative of the consensus opinion. The film was a big hit with professional critics and general audiences alike; it currently has a "fresh" score of 72% on Rotten Tomatoes with 179 reviews.

The critics' consensus reads: "The Infiltrator's compelling fact-based story and tremendously talented cast are often just enough to balance out its derivative narrative and occasionally clunky execution."

While the film was praised for its realistic depiction of events and unwavering dedication to historical accuracy, some individuals took issue with The Infiltrator's version of the story. In 2016, Javier Ospina Baraya filed a lawsuit against Mazur and the film's crew for presenting what he believed to be an inaccurate representation of himself.

In the film, Baraya is said to be complicit in Escobar's organized ring of money laundering-a claim which he strongly denies to this day. Though Baraya's role in the film is only minor, his lawsuit was ruled as legitimate by the Florida State Appeals Court, and attempts to dismiss the case were denied. The matter was settled privately.

When The Infiltrator leaves Netflix in the U.S. on May 7, 2026, audiences will have to buy or rent the film through any major VOD service in order to watch at home. Prices currently sit around $2.49 for a rental or $6.99 for a permanent purchase through Amazon Prime Video.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.

This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 9:04 AM.