So a new action-comedy movie with a 29% critic score has become the most watched original movie on a big streaming platform this year. What does this say about the gap between how critics rate shows and how much we enjoy them and what really draws us in to streaming?
The movie came out this year and stars Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx. They play former CIA spies who get pulled back in. The idea seemed perfect for a funny action movie but critics just shrugged and moved on. Many reviews said it wasn’t original, had a predictable story and followed the action-comedy formula. The audience has spoken – and they’ve done it by watching for billions of minutes.
The Power of Stars and How We Watch: A Match Made in Heaven
5.2 billion minutes of viewing and you wonder what drew in so many? A big reason is the star power. Cameron Diaz has been away for 11 years and it got people talking and interested. Jamie Foxx and his co-star are charming and funny and probably hit the right note for people looking for some fun and a break from reality.
Also the type of streaming platform is important. Unlike movies in theaters where people choose to see after reading good reviews or hearing buzz, streaming allows us to watch easily without much commitment. We’ve already paid for the service so it’s easy to just click play on a new release. Especially if it stars actors we know and love in a genre we enjoy. The “simple action-comedy formula” that critics think is boring might be exactly what many of us want for a night in. It’s a formula that gives us fun, easy jokes and a straightforward story without having to think too much.
This also shows a trend with streaming originals. Many movies made for streaming services get mixed reviews from critics but still get a lot of views. What counts as success in streaming is very different from what counts in movie theaters. For a big streaming service keeping subscribers engaged and retaining them is key. If a movie no matter what the critics say keeps people watching for billions of minutes it’s a success.
Some people find critical reviews helpful, others care more about star power, familiar genres and just wanting easy entertainment. The unexpected success of this action-comedy shows us in streaming.
