Summary
- Jack Reacher films starring Tom Cruise enjoy renewed success on Netflix, topping daily charts despite prior criticism.
- Netflix highlights resurgence of overlooked B-movies like the Jack Reacher series, capturing large audiences globally.
- Despite international overshadowing by SpongeBob, Tom Cruise's action films showcase streaming success without critical acclaim.
As speculation swirls around action star Tom Cruise's rumored stunt for the Paris Olympics closing ceremony, two of his critically panned action films have just landed on streaming and are taking Netflix by storm.
Netflix remains a major force in the streaming world with a stronghold on original content. Although the platform remains tight-lipped about detailed viewership data, it occasionally highlights big successes and features a daily top 10 list, offering a glimpse into what’s trending. While this list often features the platform’s heavily promoted high-profile originals, the resurgence of overlooked B-movies is truly intriguing. These films, typically starring recognizable actors and having had mediocre box office runs, are finding a surprising second life on Netflix, reaching audiences larger than they originally attracted. This trend is evident in two Tom Cruise films that recently joined the Netflix lineup.
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Two Tom Cruise movies have recently made a big splash on Netflix, swiftly capturing the platform's attention. The Jack Reacher films, Jack Reacher and its sequel Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, the first of which was directed by Mission: Impossible filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie, were introduced to Netflix's catalog at the beginning of August, bringing the popular paramount action titles to the streaming giant. The response was immediate, with both films quickly climbing to the top of Netflix's movie charts. Although the two Jack Reacher films starring Cruise as the titular character have long been a topic of debate among fans of Lee Child's bestselling novels, this hasn’t stopped them from attracting a significant streaming audience. Now, eight years after the theatrical release of the second movie, both Jack Reacher films are enjoying a resurgence on Netflix and appear poised to achieve even greater success, marking a triumphant debut for the franchise on the platform.
As of August 5th, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back secured the top spot on Netflix's daily Top 10 Movies list. The movie continues to dominate the charts, with the first Jack Reacher film featuring Tom Cruise’s debut as the titular character trailing close behind in fifth place. Although neither movie fully satisfied fans of Lee Child’s mercenary character at the time of their release, Cruise’s global appeal contributed to their moderate financial success. In the past two years, however, fans of the Reacher novels have praised Alan Ritchson’s Reacher series on Prime Video for correcting many of the shortcomings of the original movies, leading to the assumption that interest in the films would dwindle. However, this assumption has been proven wrong as the films have found a resurgence on Netflix, similar to many other previously overlooked movies. While Tom Cruise’s star power undoubtedly plays a role in their renewed popularity, the success of Prime Video's highly regarded Reacher TV series has likely reignited interest in the original films. Whether fans of the new series are curious about Cruise's portrayal of the character is uncertain, but it’s clear that the films' return to the spotlight is being met with approval, regardless of the reasons behind it.
While Tom Cruise's two Jack Reacher films are making waves on Netflix in the U.S., they haven't had the same impact internationally. Despite significant viewership stateside, they’ve been overshadowed worldwide by SpongeBob SquarePants in an electric comeback in the eagerly anticipated spin-off, Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie, which pairs the beloved SpongeBob with Sandy Cheeks. This film has dominated the global Netflix chart since its release, particularly capturing the attention of younger viewers over the summer break. It appears that even for Cruise, some missions are just too difficult. If anything, the streaming triumphs of both SpongeBob's latest adventure and Tom Cruise's Jack Reacher series on Netflix, much like Madame Web, reaffirm that a film doesn't have to be critically acclaimed to achieve streaming success. It simply needs to be available to viewers on a service they already subscribe to.
Jack Reacher and Jack Reacher: Never Go Back are streaming on Netflix.
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Source: ComicBook