Box Office Flop ‘To Catch a Killer’ Now Tops Netflix Charts!

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I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to Netflix as it seems to be transforming into a refuge for films that didn’t quite shine in previous years’ box offices. To illustrate this point, take the 2023 crime thriller featuring Shailene Woodley and , which is currently reigning supreme on Netflix’s movie chart. Despite some viewers underrating it, there’s no denying that its box office performance was underwhelming, with a mere $3.1 million earned during its initial release.

Damián Szifron took on both directing and scriptwriting duties for this project, while Jonathan Wakeham contributed as another writer. Alongside Szifron, Woodley, Stuart Manashil (from ‘Watcher’), and Aaron Ryder (‘Arrival’) served as producers. The film shares many characteristics with ‘The Silence of the Lambs’, featuring a young FBI agent tasked with capturing a serial killer who perceives the world in a unique and disturbing way. In summary, the plot goes like this:

In contemporary times, Eleanor (Woodley) is a young police detective dealing with the ghosts of her past. She’s approached by the FBI’s top investigator (Mendelsohn) for help in profiling and pursuing a mentally disturbed person. This elusive individual’s actions are unlike anything law enforcement has encountered before, making their hunt a challenge. Due to Eleanor’s troubled mind, she might be the one person capable of comprehending the criminal’s thoughts and delivering justice.

Shailene Woodley first gained significant recognition through her performances in young adult-oriented productions such as the TV show “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” on ABC Family/Freeform, the “Divergent” series, and the movie version of “The Fault in Our Stars”. Since then, she’s also been seen in films like “The Descendants” and “Big Little Lies”. Other actors featured in these projects include Mendelsohn, Jovan Adepo, Ralph Ineson, Rosemary Dunsmore, Michael Cram, Jason Cavalier, and Mark Camacho.

Is ‘To Catch a Killer‘ Worth Watching on Netflix?

Two years ago, the movie “To Catch a Killer” didn’t make enough of an impact to be noticed amidst the bustling market of thrillers. However, one review on Rotten Tomatoes puts it this way: “When a 2023 film appears on Netflix in 2025, it’s often just a failed box office movie getting a little extra money for clicks. This film was indeed a flop (it made only $3 million in the US), but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a chance.

The overall impression of the film appears to be quite average, earning a 53% rating from critics and 62% approval from viewers. Most comments praise the performances of its main actors, particularly Shailene Woodley who delivers a convincing portrayal of her complex police investigator character, and Ben Mendelsohn who once again demonstrates his weight in acting – it’s worth mentioning that he was highly acclaimed for his role in Marvel’s “Secret Invasion.

If you’re a fan of intense and gritty crime thrillers filled with dialogue, then “To Catch a Killer” might be worth checking out. Although it may not reach the lofty heights of genre legends, critics agree that it’s an above-average thriller with some unexpected twists. This seems to have appealed to many viewers on Netflix.

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2025-02-21 16:08