The Wages of Fear (2024 film)

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The Wages of Fear
The Wages of Fear 2024 film poster.jpg
English language poster
Directed by Julien Leclercq
Written by
Based on The Wages of Fear
by Georges Arnaud
Produced by
  • Mikael Govciyan
  • Julien Madon
  • Julien Leclercq
  • Nathalie Toulza Madar
Starring
Music by Éric Serra
Production
companies
  • Labyrinth Films
  • TF1 Studio
  • TF1
Distributed by Netflix
Release date
  • March 29, 2024 (2024-03-29)
Running time
106 min
CountryFrance
LanguagesFrench, Arabic
Budget€16,600,000 [1]

The Wages of Fear is a French thriller film directed by Julien Leclercq and released in 2024 on Netflix. [2] The film is a new adaptation of the novel of the same name by Georges Arnaud. The film is also based on the screenplay of the 1953 film of the same name, directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot. [3] [4]

Contents

Synopsis

In a desert nation undergoing revolutionary upheaval, four mercenary adventurers are commissioned by an oil corporation to undertake a high-stakes logistical operation. Their objective is to transport nitroglycerin, securely loaded onto two trucks, to extinguish a massive oil well fire threatening a refugee camp housing approximately 5,000 individuals, including the family of one of the operatives.

The mission requires traversing several hundred kilometers of hazardous desert terrain while circumventing numerous obstacles and dangers. In exchange for the successful completion of this perilous task, the mercenaries are offered substantial financial compensation. [5]

Cast

Reception

Chase Hutchinson of Collider stated: "While it was unlikely that this remake would ever come close to the original, which was itself based on a novel, just how far short it falls is almost impressive. The action, more built around sporadic shootouts and forced hand-to-hand fight sequences, is never even remotely thrilling... It is like a chasm is being opened up before us where you can see the brilliant heights of Clouzot’s film and the dire depths that this one just keeps falling further into. By the time it hits rock bottom, you’re just glad it's over." [6]

Padraig Cotter of ScreenRant wrote: "The Wages of Fear isn't terribly emotional and plays like a cross between a Fast and Furious movie and an extended Call of Duty mission. Still, in keeping with its Fast and Furious inspiration, family drama plays an important role." [7]

References

  1. "Le Salaire de la peur (Nuclear Road)". Scriptoclap (in French).
  2. "The Wages of Fear (2024) - Netflix Movie - Where To Watch". TV Insider . Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  3. Figaro, Le (15 April 2023). "Un remake du Salaire de la peur sera visible sur Netflix en 2024". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  4. Martin, Charles (11 April 2023). "Le réalisateur de Braqueurs va refaire Le Salaire de la Peur pour Netflix". Première (in French). Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  5. "The Wages of Fear (2024)". Letterboxd . Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  6. Hutchinson, Chase (29 March 2024). "'The Wages of Fear' Review: Netflix Remakes a Classic, but to What End?". Collider. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  7. Cotter, Padraig (3 April 2024). "Netflix's The Wages Of Fear Ending Explained". ScreenRant . Retrieved 26 August 2025.