Ever find yourself scrolling through Netflix or Starz at 11:00 PM, desperate for something that doesn't require a PhD to follow but isn't total garbage? You’ve probably seen a gritty-looking thumbnail of Idris Elba holding a gun in front of a hazy Parisian backdrop.
It’s called The Take.
But here is the thing: if you feel like you’ve heard of this movie under a different name, you aren't crazy. Most of the world originally knew it as Bastille Day. It’s a movie that, quite frankly, had some of the worst timing in the history of cinema.
The Take Idris Elba Fans Keep Rediscovering
Released originally in 2016, The Take stars Idris Elba as Sean Briar, a CIA agent who is—to put it lightly—not a "people person." He’s the kind of guy who punches first and asks questions never. He’s stuck in Paris, a city he seems to actively despise, when a bomb goes off.
Enter Richard Madden. Before he was the Bodyguard or a Marvel Eternal, he was Michael Mason, a high-end American pickpocket working the streets of Paris. He steals the wrong bag. The bag contains a bomb. Suddenly, the petty thief is the most wanted man in France.
The setup is classic buddy-cop territory. You’ve got the indestructible, grumpy bull in a china shop (Elba) and the fast-talking, terrified rat (Madden). Honestly, their chemistry is what saves the movie from being just another bargain-bin thriller. They filmed a lot of improvised takes just to get that "we actually hate each other" vibe right, and it shows.
Why the Title Kept Changing
You might wonder why a movie would dump a perfectly good title like Bastille Day for something as generic as The Take.
It wasn't a creative choice. It was a tragedy.
The film was scheduled to hit French theaters right around July 2016. Then, the horrific truck attack in Nice happened on the real Bastille Day. Out of respect for the victims—and because the movie literally features a plot about a terrorist attack on the national holiday—the studio pulled it from theaters almost immediately. When it finally made its way to the US and home video, they rebranded it.
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Basically, the marketing team realized that "Bastille Day" was a PR nightmare at that moment. So, they went with The Take, a name so forgettable you’ve probably scrolled past it three times tonight.
Is It Actually Any Good?
If you're looking for a deep, philosophical exploration of geopolitical tension, look elsewhere. This isn't Syriana.
But if you want to see Idris Elba clothesline a guy while running across the rooftops of Paris? This is your holy grail.
The action is surprisingly tactile. Unlike the Bourne movies, which sometimes use so much shaky-cam you get motion sickness, director James Watkins keeps things relatively steady. There’s a fight in the back of a moving police van that is genuinely one of the best-choreographed brawls of the 2010s. It’s cramped, ugly, and feels like it actually hurts.
Critics weren't exactly kind when it dropped. It sits at about a 48% on Rotten Tomatoes. Most reviewers said the same thing: "Great actors, meh script." And they aren't wrong. The plot involves a conspiracy of crooked French cops trying to rob the French Federal Reserve, and it gets a bit "wait, what?" toward the end.
Still, Elba is magnetic. He treats the role like a Bond audition. He’s sullen, he’s physically imposing, and he even sings the song over the closing credits. Yes, really.
Why You Should Watch It Now
The reason The Take is suddenly popping up in Top 10 lists in 2026 is simple: we missed this kind of mid-budget action movie.
Everything now is either a $300 million superhero epic or a tiny indie drama. There’s a massive gap where these "90-minute Friday night thrillers" used to live.
- The Locations: Paris looks great, even when it’s being used as a backdrop for a conspiracy.
- The Duo: Madden and Elba are a fun pairing. Madden’s "weaselly but talented" pickpocket routine balances Elba’s "human brick" energy.
- The Practicality: It doesn't rely heavily on CGI. The stunts feel real because a lot of them actually were.
Where to Find The Take
Depending on where you live, you’ll find it under different titles. If you’re in the US, look for The Take. If you’re browsing a UK catalog or certain European streamers, it might still be listed as Bastille Day.
It’s currently floating around on platforms like Starz and occasionally Netflix.
Honestly, the movie is a "hidden gem" not because it’s a masterpiece, but because it’s a very competent, very fun action flick that got buried by real-world events. It’s the perfect palate cleanser after a long week.
If you’re a fan of Idris Elba’s work in Luther, you’ll find a lot to like here. Sean Briar is basically John Luther with a CIA badge and even fewer rules.
Next Steps for the Viewer:
Check your local streaming availability for The Take or Bastille Day. If you're a fan of the "unlikely duo" trope seen in movies like Midnight Run or Lethal Weapon, add this to your watchlist immediately. For those interested in the production side, look for the "making of" featurettes that highlight the rooftop chase sequences, which were filmed with minimal digital intervention in the heart of Paris.