Time is running out to watch one of the most critically acclaimed spy thrillers of the 21st century.

Zero Dark Thirty is leaving Netflix UK on Thursday, May 15, giving viewers less than 48 hours to stream the Oscar-winning blockbuster before it becomes unavailable.

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the 2012 film charts the decade-long hunt for Osama bin Laden, culminating in the infamous 2011 Navy SEAL raid on a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Based on first-hand accounts and classified intelligence, the film blends intense realism with gripping drama – and has been hailed by many as the definitive CIA thriller of its era.

Jessica Chastain leads the cast as Maya, a fiercely driven CIA analyst whose obsession with tracking bin Laden anchors the story. The role earned her a Best Actress nomination at the Academy Awards and solidified her status as one of Hollywood’s most versatile stars. She’s joined by Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Ehle, and the late James Gandolfini in one of his final film performances.

On reviewing platform Rotten Tomatoes, where the film amasses a 91% score, one fan commented, calling it “the best CIA movie ever. Gritty, realistic, hard to watch at times, brooding, building, tense. Amazing direction and cinematography, sound design.”

Another praised its rewatchability: “No idea how this didn’t win the Best Picture Oscar. The best advert I can give it is that it stands the test of time. I’ve seen it about 10 times over the years and each time I see it, I appreciate it more. Jessica Chastain is obviously outstanding, but actually my favourite performance comes from James Gandolfini. Don’t judge it; watch it and enjoy it.”

Despite losing the Best Picture Oscar to Argo, Zero Dark Thirty received widespread critical acclaim for its portrayal of intelligence gathering and counterterrorism in the post-9/11 era. It was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Original Screenplay, and won for Best Sound Editing.

About the movie’s immersive quality, one fan wrote: “The dark cloud feeling of this movie blew me away. The hunt was on and feels like you’re a part of it. Even if this movie gives you a fraction of sensation to what it would feel like to be a part of this team, it was exhilarating.”

Another called it “one of the best movies we have. Jessica Chastain as the main character in a military movie was incredible.”

With only a short window left to stream it, now is the perfect time to revisit what many are calling “the best ever” spy movie before it vanishes from Netflix – or until Thursday, May 15.