Gerard Butler’s Action Thriller With 82% on Rotten Tomatoes Becomes Top 3 Netflix Hit, 5 Years Later

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A Gerard Butler action film from 2019 is finally getting the attention it deserves thanks to a recent surge in popularity on Netflix. Streaming services have become a great way to rediscover movies that didn’t do well in theaters, much like browsing video rental stores used to be. Just as films like John Carpenter’s The Thing found a huge audience on video after their initial release, Netflix is giving older movies a second chance to shine. A film might not make a splash in cinemas, but it can become a hit years later when people discover it on streaming.

As a big action movie fan, I was surprised to see that Gerard Butler’s Copshop is currently third on Netflix’s most-watched list! It’s great timing because the director of Copshop, Joe Carnahan, just released a new Netflix original thriller called The Rip this January. Copshop was actually his last big project before taking a four-year break from directing, so it’s cool to see him back with another action flick.

In the film Copshop, Frank Grillo plays Teddy Murretto, a con artist, and Alexis Louder is Val Young, a new police officer. The story centers around Bob Viddick, a professional hitman, and Teddy, who intentionally gets arrested to escape the hitman. However, the hitman deliberately gets himself arrested too, hoping to reach his target in jail. Officer Young finds herself caught in the middle and must decide who to trust when a dangerous criminal named Lamb (Toby Huss) appears.

Despite receiving positive reviews – earning an 82% score on Rotten Tomatoes when it came out in 2021 – the film Copshop didn’t do well in theaters. It cost $43.5 million to make but only earned $6.8 million at the box office, which led to a four-year gap in directing work for the filmmaker. Now, thanks to Netflix, the movie is finding an audience and the critical praise is being reflected in its streaming numbers.

Netflix Has Plenty of Movies to Catch Up On

Netflix is seeing a surge in popularity for some older films. Besides Copshop, Night at the Museum and the classic Independence Day have both landed in the Top 10. Another film getting a second life is Homefront, starring Jason Statham, which has remained in the Top 10 since becoming available on Netflix this month.

Popular, older movies like Night at the Museum and Independence Day consistently draw viewers when added to streaming platforms, largely due to people’s fond memories of them. However, Netflix often finds even greater success with less famous films, such as Copshop and Homefront. These movies feature well-known actors like Gerard Butler and Jason Statham, and their exciting plots appeal to viewers searching for fresh content. In fact, Copshop is currently more popular on Netflix than it was during its original theatrical release five years ago.

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2026-02-13 17:11