Summary
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.
Netflixremains 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.
Two Tom Cruise movies have recently made a big splash on Netflix, swiftly capturing the platform’s attention. The Jack Reacher films,Jack Reacherand its sequelJack Reacher: Never Go Back, the first of which was directed byMission: Impossiblefilmmaker 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 Backsecured the top spot on Netflix’s daily Top 10 Movies list. The movie continues to dominate the charts, with the firstJack Reacherfilm 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 praisedAlan Ritchson’sReacherseries 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’shighly regardedReacherTV serieshas 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.
