U.S. HISPANIC
Netflix´s Contraataque is a Success with a Narrative Where the Good Guys Win
Aliana González| 28 de marzo de 2025
The crash and initial attack scene took three days to film
The Mexican film Contraataque is winning over audiences on Netflix, offering a shift in the narrative: the heroes are the right people. Producer Francisco González Compeán sums it up in one phrase: “You can’t live in a country where there are no good cops—not even in the movies.”
Contraataque has reached the number one spot globally on Netflix’s ranking of non-English films. Since its premiere on February 28, it has held this position for two weeks, with 22.1 million views. It is also number one in 38 countries, amassing 31.3 million hours watched.
This is a significant achievement, not only because it is a Mexican-made action film— a genre rarely explored in the country— but also for its bold attempt to change the prevailing narrative, moving away from the trope of glorifying drug lords as protagonists.
The film is licensed by Videocine and was produced by Draco Films.
CHANGING THE NARRATIVE
Director Chava Cartas and producer González Compeán have been envisioning this project for years, along with others of a similar nature, as their way of reshaping reality. They argue that as long as criminals and drug lords are portrayed as heroes, flaunting wealth and power on screen, children and teenagers will continue seeing them as role models for escaping poverty.
“As filmmakers, directors, and communicators, we must be mindful of what we show on screen. In American films, even mail carriers can be heroes. Why don’t we do the same in our countries?” said Chava Cartas.
González Compeán added: “For years, Chava and I have wanted to make an action film that flips the script. In Latin America, the winners—the ones who always come out on top, who are the most handsome, have the most beautiful partners, and drive the best cars—are the drug lords and criminals. Authorities are always depicted as corrupt or incompetent. We decided to go in the opposite direction.”
According to Cartas, the Mexican audiovisual industry has long failed to provide true heroes. This void is evident even in popular corridos tumbados, where criminals are the main characters.
“The audience’s reaction proves that people need these kinds of stories. This is just the beginning of a movement to inspire kids to want to be soldiers rather than criminals,” said Cartas.
A GLOBAL HIT
While a shift in narrative makes sense for audiences in Mexico and Latin America, how does it resonate globally?
According to Cartas and González Compeán, Counterattack was released at the perfect moment, albeit unintentionally.
Just one week after its premiere, the film reached #1 in 30 countries, including Switzerland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Lebanon, Brazil, and Argentina, and entered the Top 10 in 80 countries with 18.6 million views.
Mexico is often at the center of global discussions on drug trafficking and organized crime, fueled by the massive production of series and films on the subject.
“Ironically, the sheer number of productions that have told the opposite story of what we show in Counterattack helped it succeed worldwide,” said González Compeán. He noted that the world already associates Mexico with drug cartels, fentanyl trafficking, and even political tensions with Donald Trump.
“When we started making this movie, we didn’t realize how well the context would play in our favor.”
A NEW KIND OF ACTION FILM
Cartas, who gained experience working on other action productions, felt a deep responsibility for this project.
“First, because people believed in us and gave us the budget. Second, because it had to be different—it couldn’t look like a Hollywood film,” he explained.
The goal was to make a distinctly Mexican action movie, without trying to imitate Hollywood blockbusters. Given the limited budget, high-cost pyrotechnics and CGI weren’t an option.
Instead, the focus was on a strong story and relatable characters.
“We wanted every character to represent a Mexican who wants to do the right thing—someone with strong values but also human fears,” said Cartas. The challenge was to make the action look visually impressive** despite not having the budget of a Hollywood film.
That’s when they found the script by José Rubén Escalante—exactly what they had been looking for.
By carefully planning every expense, González Compeán and the team ensured every peso was visible on screen.
EXCEPTIONAL BUT LESSER-KNOWN CAST
The film, which runs for 85 minutes, stars Luis Alberti (playing the squad captain) and Noé Hernández (as the drug lord). They are joined by David Calderón, Leonardo Alonso, Guillermo Nava, Luis Curiel, Mayra Batalla, and Frida Jiménez in her film debut.
Rather than casting big-name actors, they prioritized talent over social media following.
“We don’t have a Diego Luna, but we have some of the best actors in the industry right now—even if they don’t have five million Instagram followers,” said the filmmakers.
MEXICAN INGENUITY BEHIND THE SCENES
The film relied on practical effects rather than CGI.
For instance, a “marrana” —a device used in special effects to simulate wall destruction—was essential for action sequences. However, the special material required for it was too expensive.
“We needed about 30 shots from the marrana, but we could only afford two. So, our team bought huge bags of popcorn to substitute the material, and it worked perfectly. That’s Mexican ingenuity,” laughed Cartas.
The film took 38 days to shoot, including two weeks of night filming in cold winter conditions. To avoid subjecting actors to freezing temperatures while lying on the ground as “dead bodies,” the team used **dummy suits stuffed with padding.
Filming locations included Isidro Fabela, Tepotzotlán, Juchitepec, and Temamatla in the State of Mexico.
TRAINING FOR AUTHENTICITY
The film was meticulously planned, filling entire rooms with storyboards to map out each scene.
A key decision was to have actors undergo 10 weeks of training with a real special forces unit, living in military conditions.
“They needed to learn not just the movements but also the mindset and physical endurance of real soldiers,” explained González Compeán.
Additionally, they trained in stage combat under Fidel Cerda, ensuring fight scenes felt authentic.
A MILESTONE FOR MEXICAN ACTION CINEMA
With Contraataque, the filmmakers hope to lay the groundwork for future Mexican action films, a genre that remains largely untapped in the country.
As the film continues to dominate Netflix charts, its success signals that audiences are eager for stories where the right people are the heroes.
