In a surprising turn of events, the big-budget monster movie The Great Wall has found success on Netflix’s U.S. Top 10 Movies chart, debuting at No. 4 for the week of April 29 to May 5. The film, which stars Matt Damon and Pedro Pascal, follows mercenaries who join Chinese soldiers in defending the Great Wall against oncoming monsters. Although Netflix does not release specific viewing data, it is clear that the movie has captured the attention of viewers on the streaming platform.
Originally released in theaters in 2017, The Great Wall had a lackluster performance at the domestic box office, earning only $45.1 million. However, the film garnered more success internationally, bringing in $289.3 million and ultimately reaching a worldwide box office gross of $334.4 million. Despite its apparent success, it was reported that the film still ended up losing money due to high production and marketing costs, with estimates suggesting a $75 million loss once all expenses were accounted for.
Compared to other films on the U.S. Top 10 Movies chart, The Great Wall faced tough competition. The romantic comedy Anyone But You topped the chart, followed by the drama The Judge, the Netflix original comedy Unfrosted, and the psychological thriller Miller’s Girl. Surprisingly, another big-budget film that underperformed at the box office, The Matrix Resurrections, did not make it onto the U.S. chart, highlighting the unpredictability of viewer preferences when it comes to streaming.
Despite the mixed reception from critics and audiences, The Great Wall seems to have found a new audience on Netflix. Rotten Tomatoes critics gave the film a 35% “rotten” rating based on 238 reviews, while the audience score was slightly higher at 42% based on over 10,000 ratings. The inclusion of the film on Netflix’s Top 10 Movies chart suggests that there is still interest in this action-packed fantasy adventure, particularly among viewers who may have missed it during its initial release.
The allure of big-budget spectacle combined with the star power of Damon and Pascal seems to have resonated with Netflix viewers, leading to the film’s surprising resurgence on the streaming platform. While it may not have been a critical darling or a box office hit during its theatrical run, The Great Wall’s newfound success on Netflix demonstrates the power of streaming services to give new life to films that may have been overlooked in theaters. As audiences continue to seek out a diverse range of content, it’s clear that even a film with a rocky start can find redemption in the world of streaming.
