Back in Action was supposed to be Cameron Diaz’s triumphant return to Hollywood, but instead it was a flop, and the actress’ comeback tour is now off to a rocky start. Cameron Diaz famously retired from acting in 2014 after appearing in three movies that year, The Other Woman, Sєx Tape, and Annie, citing the two decades of traveling for work having taken its toll (via BusinessInsider). The industry and fans were largely supportive but understandably disappointed. The Golden Globe-nominated actress was one of the biggest celebrities and performers of her day.

When the cast was announced for Back in Action, the biggest news was that Diaz was returning to the big screen for the first time since 2014 to co-star alongside Jamie Foxx. The 2025 action comedy directed by Seth Gordon for Netflix follows a soon-to-be married couple, Matt (Foxx) and Emily (Diaz), who are also CIA agents, called back in after their secret idenтιтies are exposed. The film has a 29% on Rotten Tomatoes and has some brutal reviews. It was the wrong choice for Diaz’s debut, especially considering she could have hit a home run with a romantic comedy.

Back In Action Wasn’t A Complete Disaster

Cameron Diaz And Jamie Foxx Have Excellent Chemistry

Back in Action is a rough film. Netflix is notorious for turning out some bad original movies with huge budgets and mᴀssive stars attached. Back in Action has a lot of the same problems those other bombs have. There’s a fake glossiness to it that’s hard to look past, and the story is of the generic quality that makes it nearly impossible to be engaged with the plot. There’s a cynical sense to the unnecessary globe-trotting and action, and it’s this type of shallowness that filmmakers like Martin Scorsese have frequently railed against.

However, Back in Action isn’t quite as bad as all that. It’s not as thoughtless as some other action movies that have come to Netflix, and that’s mostly thanks to Diaz’s and Foxx’s performances and chemistry. These two are movie stars and it shows. They add gravity to the dramatic scenes, their well-known comedic timing to the funny bits, and even when they aren’t doing anything, it’s hard not to be drawn to them. Cameron Diaz has still got it, which is why it would have been better to see her in a movie that could utilize her talents better.

A Cameron Diaz Rom-Com Would Have Been The Perfect Comeback Movie

Diaz Could Have Reinvigorated The Rom-Com Genre

Cameron Diaz is no stranger to action movies, but her best films have always been romantic comedies, and her comeback should have absolutely been in that genre. From her debut in 1994 with The Mask as Tina Carlyle to one of her final movies in 2014, Sєx Tape, as Annie Hargrove, Diaz has been a staple of romantic comedies. Heather Davis in She’s the One, Kimmy Wallace in My Best Friend’s Wedding, Mary Jensen in There’s Something About Mary, Julie Gianni in Vanilla Sky, Amanda Woods in The Holiday, the list goes on and on.

Additionally, just because Diaz had a lot of notable roles in romantic comedies didn’t mean that she was a one-note actress. Beyond her non-rom-com roles in Any Given Sunday, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, and The Counselor, Diaz proved she could play characters in similar genres completely differently. Mary Jensen is perfectly charming and funny, much different than Julia Gianni, who is cold and jealous as she works to take her revenge on Tom Cruise’s David, who broke her heart.

In Being John Malkovich, Diaz is quietly humorous and a little sad as Lotte Schwartz. However, in In Her Shoes as Maggie Feller, Diaz is upbeat and free-spirited. Rarely does Diaz repeat a character in her romantic comedies. A new film, with Jamie Foxx even, would have been a fantastic way to show audiences the Diaz they remembered was well and truly back.

A Rom-Com Starring Cameron Diaz Might Even Have A Theatrical Release

Diaz’s Moives Grossed Over $3 Billion

The last five years have been tough for rom-coms, not in terms of quality, as there have been plenty of excellent films in the genre, but in terms of global appeal and reach. There have been very few classic romantic comedies with huge stars at the center. Recently, rom-coms have had to be disguised within other genres, like in the cases of Elemental, Emma, and Palm Springs. Others have lacked true star power, relying on the hope that younger actors will have enough cultural cachet, like in the case of Happiest Season, Crush, and H๏τ Frosty.

Even more frustrating, a lot of romantic comedies go straight to streamers, making them feel unimportant or ephemeral. Hit Man, Red, White & Royal Blue, and The Half of It could have made waves but either received no theatrical run or an abbreviated one. The only rom-coms that have come out recently with major stars, theatrical releases, and fit the mold of classic romantic comedies are Anyone but You and No Hard Feelings. A Cameron Diaz rom-com would be a welcome respite from the usual and likely would have done excellent numbers at the box office.

It wouldn’t have been the first time a Diaz movie excelled at the box office. There’s Something About Mary earned $370 million (via BoxOfficeMojo), The Mask earned $352 million (via BoxOfficeMojo), and Charlie’s Angels earned $264 million (via BoxOfficeMojo). In total, her movies have grossed over $3 billion (via BoxOfficeMojo). Trying to get people into theaters at the moment might seem like a tall task, but if there’s anyone who could do it, Cameron Diaz would be a good bet.

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Cameron Diaz Isn’t Letting One Miscue Stop Her

Diaz Has Two Big Movies Coming Up

While Back in Action may not have been everything Diaz hoped it would be, she’s not letting one stumbling block rattle her. She’ll be returning to voice Fiona in the upcoming Shrek 5, which is as sure a bet as any. She is also set to star in the upcoming black comedy from Jonah Hill, Outcome, where she will play an as yet unnamed character. Back in Action may have been a flop, but it wasn’t a failure, because it at least meant we got Cameron Diaz back, and that’s a victory that’s worth any number of bad Netflix movies.