Gerard Butler’s 5-Year-Old Action Movie Deserved Better At The Box Office

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Despite not performing well in theaters, Gerard Butler’s Copshop was a thrilling action movie that fans of the genre would have likely enjoyed. Directed by Joe Carnahan, who recently had success with The Rip on Netflix, the 2021 film is a gritty, violent neo-noir that cleverly uses a single location to create a suspenseful and exciting story.

Director Joe Carnahan’s career has seen both successes and failures. His 2002 film, Narc, is a hidden gem that rivals Training Day in its quality, and his latest movie, The Rip (2026), showcases his talent for exploring the complex and often flawed ethics of police officers.

Look, The A-Team back in 2010? It just didn’t click with audiences or critics, which was rough for director Joe Carnahan. But he really bounced back with The Grey in 2011 – honestly, I think it’s his best work so far, and Liam Neeson is fantastic in it, though it doesn’t get nearly enough credit. And more recently, Copshop from 2021 was a real surprise – it got a seriously strong performance from an actor who can be hit or miss.

What Is Copshop About?

Gerard Butler delivers one of his strongest performances in Copshop, playing Bob Viddick, a hitman assigned to kill Frank Grillo’s character, Teddy Murretto. Murretto is a con artist who plans to cooperate with the FBI to bring down his mafia bosses. To avoid being found, Murretto intentionally gets himself arrested at a small-town police station, and Viddick isn’t far behind.

Murretto had a clever idea – hiding out in a police station, figuring criminals would avoid it at all costs. But Viddick was one step ahead. A hitman hired by Butler quickly entered the police station to find Murretto, and rookie officer Val Young, played by Alexis Louder, found herself unexpectedly in the middle of the dangerous situation.

Copshop is a tense and violent thriller, reminiscent of films like Assault on Precinct 13 and Red Rock West. This 70s-style movie takes place primarily in one location and expertly combines brutal action with a plot that’s complex, but not overly so.

This film avoids the problem of having too many characters, unlike the director’s previous movie, Smokin’ Aces. Viewers can easily keep track of everyone and understand what’s at risk. What’s more, the characters Murretto, Val, and Viddick are surprisingly relatable at times, which makes the story’s moral questions even more complex.

Copshop Was A Box Office Bomb

Image courtesy of Everett Collection

You know, reading about Copshop, you’d think it was a big success when it came out. But honestly, it totally flopped. It was a real box office disaster for Gerard Butler and director Joe Carnahan. They put $43.5 million into making it, but it only brought in around $6.8 million when it was released in 2021. It’s a shame, because I was really hoping it would do better.

Luckily, Copshop found an audience on streaming services, letting more people discover this surprisingly good action movie long after it first came out. It’s still surprising, though, that it didn’t do well in theaters, especially since critics generally liked it. While the pandemic and lockdowns likely played a role, they don’t fully explain why Copshop struggled.

Despite being rated R, action films like Wrath of Man and Nobody both did well in theaters, suggesting Copshop could have also found success under different conditions. It’s especially surprising that Copshop didn’t perform better, considering it’s one of Gerard Butler’s stronger action films.

How Copshop Compares To Gerard Butler’s Other Action Films

Gerard Butler is known for action roles, including films like Olympus Has Fallen (2013) and Hunter Killer (2018), as well as his recent movie Copshop. While critics liked his 2023 film Plane, it combined survival elements with action, making it a bit different from the more direct action of Copshop.

The films Den of Thieves (2018) and its sequel, Den of Thieves: Pantera (2025), are most similar to Copshop. While the original Den of Thieves did well in theaters, Pantera wasn’t as well-received. Though Den of Thieves is more over-the-top and entertaining than Copshop, Copshop has a more direct and effective storyline than the Den of Thieves sequel.

Why Copshop Has Been Successful On Streaming

Films like Den of Thieves and Plane show that Copshop could have done well in theaters, especially with Gerard Butler as the lead. However, it’s likely Copshop found its audience through streaming because its story, which takes place in a single location, works particularly well for watching at home.

This movie, much like the Netflix thriller Below Zero, works best when watched at home. Its story focuses on a tight, contained situation, and the feeling of being trapped is actually heightened on a smaller screen. Some of the film’s intense moments don’t have the same impact in a movie theater.

Joe Carnahan’s films often feature large, sweeping environments, such as the vast, snowy landscape in The Grey. However, Copshop takes a different approach, confining most of its intense action to a single police station, creating a relentlessly suspenseful experience.

It’s fitting that the film Copshop found success through streaming. It was made with a smaller, more intimate feel – the fast-paced action and desperate characters actually work better on a smaller screen. Unlike some of his larger action films, Copshop truly benefits from being watched at home.

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2026-02-03 23:31