From Box Office Bomb to Streaming Sensation: The Surprising Rise of ‘Here’

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Originally, the film titled Here, starring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, along with director Robert Zemeckis, who had previously won an Academy Award together, was intended to be a grand, multi-century production. However, despite the intriguing storyline (details to follow), the movie underperformed at the box office and received unfavorable reviews from critics. Interestingly, it has since gained popularity on Netflix and has been consistently ranked in their U.S. Top 10 charts ever since its premiere. Here first appeared in theaters on Nov. 1 before being made available on Netflix on January 30, where it currently holds the ninth position. Upon release, it debuted at the second spot, which was its highest streaming ranking.

This drama’s unexpected surge in popularity is quite contrasting to its performance during its initial run. In financial terms, it managed to earn only $15.7 million globally against a production budget of $50 million. Critically, the film didn’t receive much praise either, as evidenced by its 37% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Despite its lackluster box office earnings and minimal critical acclaim during its initial release, this drama has surprisingly gained popularity. The movie made only $15.7 million globally against a production budget of $50 million, and currently holds a 37% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

According to a 2014 graphic novel by Richard McGuire, the screenplay for this film was penned by Robert Zemeckis and Eric Roth. This drama scheduled for release in 2024 presents an innovative concept, tracing the lives of various families dwelling at the same spot across centuries, with a timeline stretching back to when dinosaurs inhabited the earth. The narrative primarily focuses on Hanks’ and Wright’s characters, Richard and Margaret, who are boyfriend and girlfriend and later husband and wife at different stages in their lives. To depict the young versions of the characters, digital technology was utilized. Paul Bettany, Kelly Reilly, and Michelle Dockery are also part of the cast. Interestingly, this film represents the fifth collaboration between Hanks and Zemeckis, following projects like Forrest Gump, Cast Away, The Polar Express, and Disney’s live-action Pinocchio.

‘Here:’ The Good, the Bad, and The “Grossly Saccharine”

Critics were generally impressed with the film’s innovative approach to technology, labeling it as “technologically advanced” by Empire Magazine and recognizing its pioneering use of de-aging technology by The Sun. However, when it comes to the storyline, the reunion movie starring Tom Hanks and Felicity Jones received little praise from critics. The Times’ Kevin Maher gave a scathing review, awarding only one star and calling the film “dull, meaningless, and poorly acted.

As a cinephile, I find it akin to observing The Sims characters succumb to senility. Regardless of the overtly sweet motives behind the filmmakers, the only message I perceive as art is that life can be harsh, meaningless, and distressingly brief, with many of us confined within our four walls for most of it. This could be an unintentional exploration of nihilism on a grand scale.

Regardless of the negative reviews, it’s evident that these digital platforms are providing a second chance for movies to thrive and gain a fresh audience, as demonstrated by the ongoing success of titles such as “Here“, which follows the likes of recently popular streaming picks like “Enough” (Tubi), “Life on the Line” (Tubi), and “Morgan” (Max).

Contrary to our anticipation, Here didn’t turn out to be another cinematic masterpiece like Forrest Gump, which garnered six Academy Awards and continues to captivate audiences with its stellar performances. However, the movie’s underperformance in terms of critical acclaim hasn’t deterred viewers from enjoying it on Netflix.

Here is streaming on Netflix.

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2025-02-06 02:03