Skyscraper: Dwayne Johnson’s Thrilling Ascent to Streaming Success!

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During the latter part of the 2010s, if you required a top-tier actor for an action/adventure movie devoid of intellectual complexity, you’d contact none other than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s representative. For approximately five years, The Rock was a mainstay in films that once upon a time would have made ideal viewing for a relaxing Saturday on TNT. One such film is the 2018 release, Skyscraper, which has been steadily climbing the streaming rankings. Skyscraper features Johnson as Will Sawyer, a former FBI agent and amputee who, following injuries sustained during a hostage rescue mission, transitions into a security consultant for skyscrapers. When terrorists seize control of the world’s tallest building in Hong Kong and demand ransom from its developer, Sawyer is tasked with rescuing his family, who are trapped within the burning edifice.

Directed, co-written, and produced by Rawson Marshall Thurber, who teamed up again with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the popular Netflix action film Red Notice, and also directed the 2016 movie Central Intelligence and Skyscraper, the main character of this film is played by Dwayne Johnson. The supporting cast includes Neve Campbell, Chin Han, Roland Møller, Noah Taylor, Byron Mann, Pablo Schreiber, and Hannah Quinlivan. This action-packed thriller can be streamed on Max (formerly HBO Max), where it’s currently climbing the rankings.

Regardless of Johnsons frequent appearances in films over the past decade, there’s been a noticeable variation in their quality and commercial success. While movies like Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Moana, and The Fate of the Furious were massive box office hits, Baywatch, Rampage, and Jungle Cruise underperformed financially. The difficulty with producing a film designed to appeal universally, such as Skyscraper, lies in the fact that if its central idea is not compelling, audiences may choose to stay away, even with star power on board. In 2018, one of Skyscrapers producers, Hiram Garcia, spoke about this challenge with The Hollywood Reporter.

Change is constant in the markets, and things will always ebb and flow. Our aim when creating movies is to produce a global product. We strive to create a film that can be enjoyed worldwide, from China and Latin America to the U.K. However, we can’t predict or control what the future holds.

The Enduring Legacy of ‘Die Hard’

Since 1988’s “Die Hard” revolutionized the concept of “one-location” action films, Hollywood has attempted to replicate this formula across diverse settings with mixed results. Wesley Snipes starred in “Passenger 57,” essentially a “Die Hard” aboard an airplane. The helm was taken by a bald Steven Segal for “Under Siege,” which can be thought of as “Die Hard” on a ship. In “Skyscraper,” the creators dared to question, “What if it’s ‘Die Hard’ in another structure?” It seems the makers of Daisy Ridley’s upcoming film, “Cleaner,” asked themselves the same question. Although nothing quite rivals the original starring Bruce Willis, the impact of “Die Hard” on action films is indelible.

Although Skyscraper doesn’t offer anything groundbreaking, it’s an enjoyable action film for fans of Dwayne Johnson’s style and charm. Similar to other 2018 movies featuring Johnson, like Rampage, Skyscraper makes for a great in-flight viewing experience (in a positive sense).

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2025-03-21 15:01