A Surprising Movie Just Grew 1,180% On Netflix, But The Reason Makes Sense

A Surprising Movie Just Grew 1,180% On Netflix, But The Reason Makes Sense

As a dedicated film enthusiast and follower of current events, I’ve been intrigued by the sudden surge in streaming numbers for Netflix‘s 2020 release, “Hillbilly Elegy.” The film, which was based on J.D. Vance’s memoir of the same name, has seen a massive increase in viewership, with a staggering 1,180% jump in minutes watched on July 15th alone.


As a gamer and media consumer, I’ve noticed how current events can significantly impact my viewing habits. For instance, back in 2020 when COVID-19 began spreading globally, leading to a pandemic, Steven Soderbergh’s film “Contagion,” which portrays its own fictional pandemic, experienced an enormous surge in streaming numbers. Recently, something similar has happened with a film from 2020, which has seen a staggering 1,180% increase in streaming. Given the recent news events, this spike makes perfect sense to me.

On July 15, Netflix revealed that approximately 19.2 million minutes of the 2020 film “Hillbilly Elegy” were streamed, marking a significant surge from the previous day’s 1.5 million minutes, as reported by Deadline. The movie, based on J.D. Vance’s 2016 memoir of the same title, features an all-star cast including Amy Adams and Oscar-nominated Glenn Close. Ron Howard helmed the project, which faced controversy and ongoing debate upon release.

A Surprising Movie Just Grew 1,180% On Netflix, But The Reason Makes Sense

The surge in interest for J.D. Vance, the memoir’s author, can be easily explained by his recent prominence in politics. This week, Trump, the Republican presidential contender and ex-president, announced Vance as his running mate for the 2024 election. Serving as Ohio’s junior senator since last year, Vance has been a topic of political debate due to his positions and views. However, his link to the Academy Award-nominated film that portrays his Ohio upbringing adds an intriguing layer to his public persona.

J.D. Vance’s upbringing in a economically disadvantaged Appalachian family is depicted in both the film “Hillbilly Elegy” and his memoir. Witnessing poverty and addiction within his own family, Vance’s experiences are deeply personal and offer insights into the socio-economic struggles faced by working class families in middle America. Although the movie received negative reviews upon release, renewed interest may be due to those wanting to understand Vance, who was a young Vice Presidential candidate with ties to Trump. Both the film and memoir provide valuable context for Vance’s political views and constituency.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve noticed an unexpected surge in the number of people tuning into “Hillbilly Elegy” on streaming platforms, starting mid-week. The buzz around Trump’s vice presidential pick started creating ripples, but the real explosion came when the announcement was made at the Republican National Convention on July 15th. Despite facing criticism and controversy, Vance’s memoir has garnered significant support, offering insights into a community that many consider underrepresented and misunderstood. It remains to be seen if this momentum will continue as we get closer to Election day, keeping us glued to our screens on Netflix.

You have the chance to watch “Hillbilly Elegy” again at your convenience, as it’s now streaming on Netflix. For updates on other movies joining the platform in 2024, check out our Netflix movie release calendar.

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2024-07-18 22:07