Mark Wahlberg at his most unhinged in '90s thriller gaining popularity on Netflix

Mark Wahlberg is perhaps predominantly considered an action star but over the years the 52-year-old American actor has showcased his talents in such a broad palette of movies. He’s done comedy with Ted, blockbusters with Uncharted, biographical drama with Father Stu. The man is in a lot, and because of that, his older movies are in danger of getting somewhat overlooked. Some of my favorite films of his were back in the 1990s, and one of them is a tense thriller called Fear on Netflix.

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Mark Wahlberg movie Fear streaming on Netflix

When you open up Netflix this weekend, you’ll find that the 1996 movie Fear is featured in the streamer’s ‘Top 10’ category.

It’s currently ranked No. 6, with fans new and old encouraging their followers on Twitter/X to check it out. One of the main focuses is just how “wild” Mark’s performance is, and seriously, it really is something.

Reece Witherspoon gives an early performance as Nicole Walker, a 16-year-old girl who begins a relationship with a charismatic young man named David McCall (Mark Wahlberg) after meeting at a nightclub.

As they get to know each other more, David’s true nature bubbles to the surface, revealing him as a major threat to Nicole and her family. If you’re a fan of thrillers like Fatal Attraction, Basic Instinct, and Body Heat, this is one for you.

Today, it’s looked back on as a cult movie that boasts a passionate fandom but not much of a mainstream appreciation. Now it’s on Netflix, we could see a turning of the tide. I actually saw it for the first time quite later on in life and I was taken by surprise with how much Mark goes for it—a real ‘swing for the fences’ performance.

Top 10 Mark Wahlberg movies

Fear makes the list, so here are my 10 favorite movies that Mark has starred in, based on my own personal preference (in alphabetical order):

Fear is now streaming on Netflix.