A French action thriller jumped to No. 1 on Netflix’s worldwide television chart within a day of its release.
Elite Force, originally titled GIGN, premiered globally on Netflix on July 22. The series moved to the top of the daily global Netflix TV ranking tracked by FlixPatrol the following day.
The six-episode series stars Tomer Sisley as a senior officer in France’s GIGN tactical unit. Its story follows a stolen-explosives case, an attack on the unit and a buried secret tied to the death of another officer.
Netflix has not yet released an official weekly viewing total for the show. The platform’s latest published global Top 10 covers July 13 through July 19, before Elite Force was released.
Elite Force Reached No. 1 After Its Netflix Debut
Elite Force launched on Wednesday, July 22. By July 23, FlixPatrol listed the series at No. 1 among Netflix TV shows worldwide.
The show’s early run was also picked up by MeriStation, which reported that the thriller had reached No. 1 in 47 countries shortly after release.
That daily ranking is not the same as Netflix’s official weekly Top 10, which reports views and hours watched after a full tracking period. For now, the available public data shows chart position, not total audience size.
The Series Follows a GIGN Officer Pulled Back Into the Field
Sisley plays David Caron, a high-ranking officer in the Groupe d’Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale. The real French unit handles hostage rescues, counterterrorism operations and other high-risk assignments.
David is preparing to leave field work when his unit is hit by an attack. A new mission involving stolen military-grade explosives pulls him back into command before he can step away.
The case also brings him closer to Max, played by Tristan Zanchi. Max is David’s godson and the son of a former GIGN colleague who died during an explosion years earlier.
Netflix Lists Six Episodes in Season 1
The official Netflix page lists Elite Force as a 2026 thriller with six episodes. The episodes run between 42 and 55 minutes.
The opening episode introduces David’s planned departure, Max’s graduation and the first attack on the unit. Later episodes follow the search for the people behind the attack, David’s decision to hide evidence and a hostage situation that forces the squad back into action.
The cast includes Guillaume Gouix, Tristan Zanchi, Thierry Neuvic, Judith El Zein, Grégori Derangère, Kévin Azaïs, Marley Duboscq, Nelly Lawson and Leanna Chea.
Ganglands Creator Julien Leclercq Co-Created the Series
Julien Leclercq and Sylvain Caron created Elite Force, with Leclercq directing. Leclercq previously worked with Netflix on the French crime series Ganglands.
What’s on Netflix reported before the premiere that the series was produced with support from the real GIGN unit. The outlet also noted that Leclercq had previously directed The Assault, a 2010 film about the 1994 Air France hijacking and GIGN intervention.
Netflix describes the show as a story about a high-ranking officer who must lead a dangerous mission after an attack on his unit forces him to confront his past.
Early Reviews Point to Action Over Character Work
Professional reviews are still limited because the series only arrived on Netflix this week. One of the first reviews came from Decider, which recommended streaming the show for its action scenes, chases and bomb-disposal sequences.
The review was less enthusiastic about the supporting characters, describing some of the GIGN team as familiar action-drama types. It gave more attention to Sisley’s lead role as David, whose family life, field work and connection to Max collide after the attack.
Netflix has not announced a second season.
