Why Gerard Butler’s ‘Kandahar’ Is Crushing It on Free Streaming Despite Critics’ Fury!

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It’s fair to conclude that Gerard Butler has solidified his position as one of the prominent action stars of our time. From movies like “Olympus Has Fallen”, its sequels, “Plane”, and the “Den of Thieves” series, Butler is quite prevalent nowadays. However, critics haven’t been overly generous to the actor’s performances. For instance, Gerard Butler’s 2023 action thriller “Kandahar”, which has been labeled as “mindless” and “predictable”, remains a popular choice on Tubi streaming platform.

Making its debut on a free streaming service last month, the film Kandahar has been a massive hit, climbing to the top of the rankings. A month later, it continues to hold its position in the Top 10, currently ranked at #8 as I write this. It’s nestled between Jean-Claude Van Damme’s 1994 sci-fi thriller Timecop, and Noah Wyle’s 2004 action adventure film The Librarian: Quest for the Spear.

Opening on May 26, 2023, the film Kandahar is based on real events and features Butler as Tom Harris, a CIA undercover operative whose mission gets compromised, finding himself stranded in Afghanistan’s dangerous terrain. Alongside his translator, he engages in combat with enemy forces while attempting to reach an extraction point in Kandahar. Debuting in 2,105 theaters, this action-packed thriller grossed $9 million during its brief stint at the box office, despite facing tough competition from movies like Disney’s The Little Mermaid live-action adaptation during its Memorial Day release.

‘Kandahar’ Severely Divided Fans and Critics

Featuring Travis Fimmel, Tom Rhys Harries, Ali Fazal, and Navid Negahban, Kandahar garnered a 45% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Although this is lower than movies like Gods of Egypt (15%), The Bounty Hunter (13%), and Geostorm (18%), it’s not the worst in terms of overall reviews. However, the negative criticism didn’t boost the film during its three-week stint in theaters. For instance, Mel Valentin from ScreenAnarchy described it as “a shallow veneer at best and a confusing, disorganized mess at worst.” Similarly, Carla Hay from Culture Mix had a less favorable opinion of the movie. She wrote:

In a more straightforward rephrasing: “The narrative of Kandahar becomes excessively complex and drags on, delaying the main plot. The film editing is poorly done, and the action sequences lack excitement. The most questionable aspect of the movie is the fictional CIA surveillance room that produces unrealistic footage.

In different critiques, Lachmi Deb Roy from Firstpost described the film “Kandahar” as a typical Gerard Butler action flick, devoid of any depth or heart. James Croot from The New Zealand Post went further, stating that it’s marred by clichéd actions, flat characters, and a politically biased stance that he characterized as nationalistic, prejudiced, and xenophobic. Certainly, these reviews don’t paint a positive picture of the film!

Regardless of the negative reviews from critics, most viewers seemed to adore the movie Kandahar, and their opinions are what truly count. With an audience rating of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, many described it as a fast-paced, action-packed film, while one viewer even labeled it a “masterpiece.” While we might not quite agree with that assessment, it’s clear that the movie wasn’t nearly as terrible as the critics suggested.

This weekend, you have the opportunity to form your own opinion about whether “Kandahar” is a noteworthy addition to Butler’s collection of films. It’s currently available for streaming at no cost on Tubi.

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2025-07-04 19:33