The Bikeriders Flopped at the Box Office but Its a Hit on Streaming

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The Bikeriders Flopped at the Box Office but Its a Hit on Streaming

As a movie buff with years of experience under my belt, I must say that I was initially disappointed when Tom Hardy’s crime thriller “The Bikeriders” didn’t live up to its potential at the box office. But as they say, every cloud has a silver lining, and in this case, that silver lining is the streaming world!

Tom Hardy’s gritty crime thriller, titled The Bikeriders, didn’t fare well at the box office, earning just $35.8 million globally. However, once it was made available on Peacock, it became a popular choice for streaming viewers.

According to reports from Screen Rant, the movie “The Bikeriders” (which is named after Danny Lyon’s photo book) stars Austin Butler as Benny, a young biker who finds himself torn between his allegiance to his new motorcycle club, the Vandals, led by Johnny (Tom Hardy), and his girlfriend Kathy (Jodie Comer). For the week of August 22 – 28, “The Bikeriders” was ranked as the tenth most-watched movie on streaming platforms.

Despite boasting big-name stars like Austin Butler and Mike Faist, who had recently starred in blockbusters such as “Dune: Part Two” and “Challengers”, the movie titled “The Bikeriders” didn’t manage to match its projected $40 million budget during its run.

Exploring The Bikeriders’ Theatrical Failure

The Bikeriders Flopped at the Box Office but Its a Hit on StreamingThe Bikeriders Flopped at the Box Office but Its a Hit on StreamingThe Bikeriders Flopped at the Box Office but Its a Hit on StreamingThe Bikeriders Flopped at the Box Office but Its a Hit on Streaming

One potential explanation for the movie’s lackluster box office success could be its budget constraints, as mid-budget films tend to face challenges in attracting audiences when the market is saturated with high-budget releases. Moreover, the film’s unique subject matter and historical backdrop might appeal to a specific audience, resulting in a more immersive viewing experience compared to the action-packed spectacles of mainstream blockbusters.

A potential explanation could be that the movie “The Bikeriders” became available on Video On Demand (VOD) only 18 days after it was first shown in cinemas. This swift transition of films from theatres to streaming has been a contentious issue in Hollywood, especially following Scarlett Johansson’s lawsuit against Disney. The lawsuit claimed that her contract with Marvel was violated when “Black Widow” was simultaneously released on Disney+ and in theaters.

Johansson believed that releasing the film immediately would eat into its box office revenue, and although The Bikeriders had distinct release dates for both theaters and streaming platforms, the proximity of those dates might have had a similar impact on the movie’s theater performance, much like the Black Widow effect.

In an era where entertainment preferences are shifting, it can be questioned whether stars like Hardy, Butler, and Comer still possess the ability to attract theatergoers solely due to their fame. However, it’s clear that they maintain such influence in the streaming world.

Due to the success of “Peaky Blinders,” Netflix acquired the rights and transformed it into one of their original series, with Hardy becoming part of the main cast as Jewish gang leader Alfie Solomons in season 2. Butler appeared in Apple TV+’s 2024 miniseries titled “Masters of Air” as Major Gale “Buck” Cleven, a member of the 101st Bomb Group. The BBC thriller “Killing Eve,” featuring Comer as the stylish but ruthless Russian assassin Villanelle, gained popularity when it premiered on Netflix. According to Variety, the series was watched for 719 minutes during its first week on Netflix, ranking at No. 8 in the Nielsen weekly streaming rankings for the April 15 – 21 period.

In the coming years, Tom Hardy will star in an exciting new movie titled “Venom: The Last Tango“. This action-packed film is set to hit cinemas on October 25, 2024. Known for its grand production values and popular appeal among fans, it’s just the kind of high-profile superhero movie that usually resonates with audiences. For those eagerly awaiting more from Hardy, his latest project “The Bikeriders” is now available to stream on Peacock.

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2024-09-08 19:03