“You Will Need a Tissue”: Acclaimed WWII Epic Number 24 Leaves Netflix Viewers in Tears Over Norwegian Resistance Hero
A lesser-known yet pivotal chapter of World War II has gripped streaming audiences worldwide as the Norwegian biographical drama Number 24 debuts on Netflix to universal critical acclaim and a rare 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Directed by John Andreas Andersen and starring Sjur Vatne Brean, the film recounts the extraordinary wartime resistance led by Gunnar Sønsteby—Norway’s most decorated war hero—exploring not only daring sabotage missions against Nazi occupiers, but also the crushing moral and psychological costs of underground warfare.
The True Story Behind “Number 24”
The film takes its title from the primary codename of Gunnar Sønsteby, an ordinary accounting clerk who emerged as a mastermind of the Norwegian resistance movement following the Nazi invasion in 1940:
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The Oslo Group (Oslogjengen): Operating under the Special Operations Executive (SOE) network, Sønsteby directed high-stakes sabotage raids, destroyed Nazi administrative archives to obstruct forced labor drafts, and carried out targeted assassinations of Gestapo officials and high-ranking collaborators.
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Dual-Timeline Narrative: Rather than unfolding as a conventional chronological combat film, Number 24 frames its events through an elderly Sønsteby reflecting upon his wartime actions while speaking to a modern classroom of students.
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Moral Ambiguity: This transition between historical missions and modern retrospection forces audiences to grapple with the grim realities of resistance: the civilian casualties, the compromises of urban warfare, and the heavy emotional weight carried by those who survived.
Critical Reception: Flawless Ratings and Moral Depth
Critics have unanimously celebrated the film for sidestepping romanticized war clichés in favor of procedural tension and psychological grit:
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Unflinching Realism: Reviews spotlight the movie as a tense, realistic thriller examining both the depths of occupation brutality and the resilience required to counter it.
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Duty vs. Humanity: Commentators noted that director John Andreas Andersen crafts a stirring portrait of unwavering duty, while balancing patriotic resolve with thoughtful examinations of survival, retribution, and moral compromise.
Audience Praise: Brean’s “Phenomenal” Lead Performance
Viewers on social media and streaming forums have matched critics’ enthusiasm, with lead actor Sjur Vatne Brean singled out for delivering a masterclass in quiet intensity:
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Restrained Power: Audiences described Brean’s portrayal of Sønsteby as mesmerizing, commanding the screen through subtle, understated expressions rather than theatrical bravado.
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An Emotional Finale: Viewer responses frequently cite the closing scenes and postscript as intensely moving, warning newcomers to have tissues ready and urging audiences to pause during the end-title cards to absorb the full historical context of Sønsteby’s post-war life and legacy.
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Authenticity: Fans praised the production’s period detail, realistic pacing, and refusal to rely on Hollywood melodrama, cementing it as an essential tribute to Norwegian patriots.
Number 24 is currently streaming worldwide on Netflix.
