After a disappointing film, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, Colin Farrell is back on top with a new thriller that’s become a huge hit on Netflix. Farrell had been enjoying a string of critically acclaimed roles in recent years, including films like The Banshees of Inisherin and the series The Penguin. Now, his latest movie is attracting millions of viewers, even though it’s sparked a lot of debate.
Edward Berger’s new film, Ballad of a Small Player, starring Colin Farrell as a gambler trying to escape his past, was the fourth most popular movie on Netflix from October 27th to November 2nd. The movie, based on Lawrence Osborne’s 2014 novel, was viewed 6.9 million times, totaling 11.9 million hours watched. It outperformed other popular titles like The Perfect Neighbor, The Woman in Cabin 10, and The Twits. However, it didn’t quite reach the top spot, which was held by A House of Dynamite, with KPop Demon Hunters remaining strong at No. 2 after 20 weeks on the charts.
As of November 5th, the movie is still the second most popular film on Netflix worldwide, only behind “A House of Dynamite,” according to FlixPatrol. Despite not currently appearing on the U.S. streaming charts—it was last seen at number 9 on November 1st—the movie is clearly a hit with international viewers.
Ballad of a Small Player Is Dividing Critics and Audiences
Despite being popular on streaming services, Ballad of a Small Player is receiving mixed reviews. Critics and audiences are divided, and the film has poor ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. While it started with a 65% score from critics, that number has dropped to 47%, and viewers aren’t much more impressed, giving it a 49% rating.
Many viewers and critics have found the story confusing and poorly structured, especially in the second half. Ross Bonaime of Collider called it “a hollow, empty experience,” and Lynn Venhaus from AWFJ.org described it as an overly ambitious drama that doesn’t deliver. While the film looks visually impressive, many believe it focuses too much on style and lacks meaningful character development or a satisfying ending.
The movie is receiving some positive attention, especially for Colin Farrell’s performance. He brilliantly plays a man struggling with addiction and inner conflict. The film also stands out for its striking visuals and captivating atmosphere.
It’s unclear if Ballad of a Small Player will stay popular on streaming services. It’s up against strong competition on Netflix, including the continued success of KPop Demon Hunters and A House of Dynamite, another thriller that’s been charting for two weeks.
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2025-11-06 00:42