Zoe Saldaña’s 2011 action thriller Colombiana has secured a new streaming home in the United States, providing audiences with an alternative way to watch the 108-minute feature as anticipation continues around the potential continuation of her spy series Lioness.
Released theatrically on July 27, 2011, Colombiana stars Saldaña as Cataleya Restrepo. In the film, a nine-year-old Cataleya witnesses the execution of her parents by a powerful drug cartel. As she matures, she undergoes professional training to become an assassin, utilizing her skills to systematically hunt down the individuals responsible for her family’s destruction.
Directed by Olivier Megaton and co-written by Luc Besson alongside Pierre-Ange Le Pogam and Gareth Upton, the production also features performances by Michael Vartan, Cliff Curtis, Lennie James, and Callum Blue. The project was originally conceived by Besson as a direct sequel to his 1994 hit Léon: The Professional, which starred Jean Reno and featured Natalie Portman in her film debut as a young girl taken in by a hitman after her parents are killed by a corrupt DEA agent.
Originally titled Mathilda in reference to Portman’s character, the project stalled after creative disputes emerged between Besson and Gaumont, the production and distribution company behind Léon. Following the falling out, Besson took the script to Megaton, and the two reworked the material into the standalone 2011 feature released by TriStar Pictures and EuropaCorp Distribution.
While sharing an action-heavy pedigree with Saldaña’s television work in Lioness, the two projects differ substantially in tone and narrative structure. Critics evaluated the 2011 film moderately, awarding it a 29 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, whereas audiences proved more receptive with a 67 percent score. By comparison, the CIA-focused spy thriller Lioness holds a 77 percent critical score and a 75 percent audience rating across its three available seasons on Paramount+.
Colombiana is currently available to stream domestically on Pluto TV with ad breaks. Viewers seeking an ad-free viewing experience will find the action thriller arriving on Starz starting November 1, 2026. Meanwhile, the official status of a potential fourth season for Lioness remains unconfirmed by Paramount, though recent creative additions suggest further developments for the series.
