Savages streaming – “Savages,” Oliver Stone’s 2012 crime thriller starring Aaron-Taylor Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, Salma Hayek, and John Travolta, is now on Netflix. The story follows two best friends who build a marijuana business in California—until a Mexican cartel
A weekend plan can change fast—especially when it starts with a phone screen glowing at midnight and ends with you stuck on a cartel thriller you didn’t expect to care about. “Savages” is on Netflix right now, and it plays like the kind of movie that slides under the radar, then refuses to let go.
Released in theaters on July 6, 2012, “Savages” earned $16.2 million on its opening weekend. The total take reached $82 million against a production budget of $45 million. It wasn’t a blockbuster explosion. but it made back nearly double its budget—money that. in this case. matches the movie’s momentum: drugs. sex. action. violence. and then more drugs.
In the film. best friends Ben and Chon build a marijuana business in California. and the operation grows past anything they expected. Their success draws the attention of a Mexican drug cartel. When the cartel confronts them through its drug enforcer. Ben and Chon try to abandon the business and flee the country. but the escape route collapses into something darker.
The cartel kidnaps Ophelia—Ben and Chon’s shared girlfriend—forcing the two friends to team up with the DEA to get her back while they try to take down the cartel. It’s a sharp tonal pivot: the story starts with the energy of rising success and turns into a grim, violent fight for survival.
Behind the camera, “Savages” was directed by Oliver Stone. Stone is also known for films including “Natural Born Killers. ” “JFK. ” and “Platoon.” The screenplay was developed by Oliver Stone and writer Shane Salerno. based on the novel “Savages” by Don Winslow. In 2012. Winslow wrote a prequel to the original novel titled “The Kings of Cool. ” which has not been adapted into a movie. at least not yet.
The cast is built to carry a story that swings between danger and seduction. Aaron-Taylor Johnson plays Ben, a businessman who knows how to grow the best marijuana. Taylor Kitsch plays Chon, a military veteran who smuggles the best marijuana seeds out of Afghanistan. Blake Lively stars as Ophelia—who goes by O—dating both Ben and Chon at the same time. John Travolta plays DEA Agent Dennis Cain. Benicio del Toro plays Miguel “Lado” Arroyo, the Mexican drug cartel enforcer.
Salma Hayek is the kind of presence that changes the temperature of a scene. She plays Elena “La Reina” Sánchez. the leader of the drug cartel who proves to be heartless and vindictive. always getting what she wants. The role stands out in part because of how often Hayek has been cast as either a love interest or an antagonist—here. she’s neither softening nor splitting the difference. Her performance in “Savages. ” which is loosely based on Mireya Moreno Carreon—Mexico’s first female cartel boss—earned her a nomination at the 2012 ALMA Awards for Favorite Movie Actress in a Drama/Adventure.
The movie’s setting and production details add to the sense that it’s striving for realism while balancing what can and can’t be done on set. While much of “Savages” takes place in Laguna Beach. California. most of the filming was actually shot in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. The production designer. Tomas Voth. wanted to use real marijuana plants for the film’s business nursery. but wasn’t allowed due to some legal restraints. so the estate was packed with fake marijuana plants.
Even the behind-the-scenes notes point to a film operating at high voltage. The chemistry between Aaron-Taylor Johnson. Taylor Kitsch. and Blake Lively looks effortless on screen. but when the three had to film a sex scene. Taylor Kitsch shared that he was actually very nervous. He said it was one of the first scenes filmed. and that he had only known Blake Lively for a few days. Kitsch also said the timing coincided with when she got married to Ryan Reynolds.
Critics also picked up on the movie’s balancing act. “Savages” received a lot of positive reviews. with many captivated by the intense action. sultry sex appeal. and the turmoil the characters have to face. Roger Ebert gave the film three and a half out of four stars. saying he was impressed by Oliver Stone’s ability to balance the business and financial aspect of the film with the drug element. explaining how much they have in common.
All of it adds up to a thriller that’s less about clean morality and more about momentum—how fast a choice can slide into consequences. The business begins in sunlight. the story moves toward the DEA and cartel enforcers. and by the time Ophelia is taken. the movie doesn’t just change genres. It changes what survival even means.
If you want two hours that feel like they were built to keep you watching—right up to the point where you start wondering what, exactly, will be left standing—“Savages” is streaming on Netflix now.
Savages 2012 Netflix Savages Oliver Stone Aaron-Taylor Johnson Taylor Kitsch Blake Lively Salma Hayek John Travolta Ben and Chon cartel thriller