Everyone has just spotted Eric Cantona stars in Netflix's number one movie

Eric Cantona as Victor Pastore in AKA
Eric Cantona as AKA crime boss, Victor Pastore. (Image credit: Nicolas Auproux/Netflix)

Plenty of action movie fans have been surprised to see footballing legend Eric Cantona cropping up in AKA, the French Netflix original that has topped the Netflix Top 10 charts since its release on Friday, April 28.  

If you've not already watched AKA, the film sees special ops agent Adam Franco being given a new undercover assignment; infiltrate the criminal organization run by Victor Pastore and bring him down from within.  

Franco is a trusted name and a veteran in the field, but his mission is complicated when Pastore as he forms a close bond with Victor Pastore's young son, Jonathan, after the mob boss hand-picks Adam as Jonathan's new bodyguard. From then on, he's caught between succeeding in his mission to bring down Pastore and protecting Jonathan from those who would do him harm.

The former Manchester United player Eric Cantona stars as Victor Pastore, whilst French actor and stuntman Alban Lenoir plays agent Adam Franco; you can learn more about both leads and find out who else stars in the movie with our AKA cast guide.

Since it came out, the film has won praise from viewers and critics alike (it has a 75% critics rating and 87% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing), but it's safe to say that viewers have been surprised to see Eric Cantona in the new movie. 

One fan wrote: "Just watched AKA on @Netflix I was sure I knew the guy playing victor pastore... it's only KING ERIC CANTONA!"

Another wrote: "it never occurred to me that Eric Cantona is an actor, seeing him in AKA caught me unawares".

A third added: "Just started watching the film 'AKA' and about 10 minutes in, I swear one of the photos of the baddies was Eric Cantona... The legend Eric", and there were plenty more fans surprised to see him showing up on Netflix!

AKA isn't the only film that Eric Cantona has starred in. His acting career began in the 1990s, after retiring from Manchester United and professional football at the age of 30. Since then, "The King" has amassed more than 40 credits, including appearances in Ulysses & Mona, Elizabeth, Inhuman Resources, Looking for Eric, The Overeater, Happiness is in the Field, The Traveller, and in the music video for Liam Gallagher's 2019 single, "Once". 

AKA is available to stream right now, exclusively on Netflix.

Martin Shore
Staff Writer at WhatToWatch.com

Martin was a Staff Writer with WhatToWatch.com, where he produced a variety of articles focused on the latest and greatest films and TV shows. Now he works for our sister site Tom's Guide in the same role.

Some of his favorite shows are What We Do In The Shadows, Bridgerton, Gangs of London, The Witcher, Doctor Who, and Ghosts. When he’s not watching TV or at the movies, Martin’s probably still in front of a screen playing the latest video games, reading, or watching the NFL.