Ryan Reynolds & Kevin Costner’s Sci-Fi Thriller Finds New Streaming Home on Max

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As a connoisseur of cinematic masterpieces and a keen observer of the ebbs and flows of Hollywood, I find myself in awe of the stark contrast between Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Costner’s 2024. While one has been on an unstoppable juggernaut ride with the Merc with a Mouth, the other seems to have found himself on a runaway train named “Horizon.”

Following the success of Deadpool in 2016, Ryan Reynolds starred in another film titled Criminal, which featured Kevin Costner, within two months. Over the years, this sci-fi thriller has been overshadowed, but now it’s finding a new platform on streaming services that could draw attention to the film directed by Ariel Vromen. Despite being released eight years ago, Criminal only managed to earn $38 million at the box office against its budget of $31 million.

The movie titled “Criminal” was co-written by David Cook and David Weisberg, who previously collaborated on the Sean Connery blockbuster “The Rock”. This film boasts an impressive ensemble cast including Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Costner, Gary Oldman, Gal Gadot, and Tommy Lee Jones. Despite this star-studded lineup, it didn’t attract moviegoers initially, as “Criminal” trailed behind films like Disney’s “The Jungle Book” remake and “Barbershop: The Next Cut” during its opening weekend. Critics were also unforgiving towards the film, as it currently holds a low rating of 30% on Rotten Tomatoes. Starting from September 1st, you can watch “Criminal” on Max. Here’s a brief summary of the plot:

“In a critical mission, CIA operative Bill Pope (Ryan Reynolds) perishes en route to a hidden destination to connect with a hacker capable of launching missiles at will. To discover his location, authorities seek help from an innovative neurosurgeon who can transfer memories from one mind to another. The test subject for this procedure is Jerico Stewart (Kevin Costner), a volatile death-row prisoner. Equipped with Pope’s abilities and knowledge, Stewart must hurry to thwart a dangerous global plot before it’s too late.”

Ryan Reynolds & Kevin Coster’s 2024 Couldn’t Be More Different

Although “Criminal” didn’t fare well at the box office in 2016, Ryan Reynolds’ career has persistently thrived. Two years later, he reprised his role as the Merc with a Mouth in “Deadpool 2,” which grossed $785 million at the box office, $3 million more than its predecessor. This year, he’s back again with “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which has swiftly become the second highest-grossing film of the year, surpassed only by “Inside Out 2.” Remarkably, it also holds the title of the highest-grossing R-rated film in history. Since its release a month ago, this superhero duo has dominated the box office, earning approximately $1.2 billion to date.

2024 didn’t bring much good fortune for Costner, as his film, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1, fell flat at the box office. Despite high expectations, it earned less than the 2016 release of Criminal, which grossed $34 million globally against its budget of $50 million, a significant portion of which was funded by Costner himself. Fortunately, the Western epic has seen a resurgence on streaming platforms recently. The future of the Horizon saga is uncertain, but Costner remains optimistic about completing his grand project.

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2024-08-30 17:01