Robert De Niro’s Divisive Crime Comedy From The Fifth Element Director Finds Redemption on Free Streaming 13 Years Later

by

Robert De Niro is known for his roles in many crime films, but The Family, a dark comedy released in 2013, hasn’t gotten much attention – until now. It’s recently become very popular with streaming viewers.

Tubi’s most popular movies this week include Denzel Washington’s The Equalizer 2 at number one and Prey at number two, according to FlixPatrol. The family film The Family just entered the chart at number six. With the recent release of Greenland 2: Migration in theaters, viewers are also watching Gerard Butler’s earlier film, Geostorm, which has climbed to number three on Tubi.

Luc Besson, the director of popular films like La Femme Nikita, Leon: The Professional, and The Fifth Element, helmed the 2013 movie The Family. The film stars Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Tommy Lee Jones, Dianna Agron, and John D’Leo as a Mafia family trying to start a new, normal life while in the witness protection program. It’s based on the French novel Malavita by Tonino Benacquista.

Despite earning $78 million globally, the film The Family received mixed reviews. Critics generally disliked it, giving it a 28% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Common complaints focused on the predictable plot and inconsistent tone, though the actors’ performances were widely praised.

Robert De Niro Hasn’t Stopped Starring in Crime Movies

Robert De Niro has consistently appeared in crime films throughout his career. His latest project, set to release in 2025, is a biopic where he plays two of New York City’s most infamous mob leaders, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese. The film depicts their ruthless competition for control of the city. Veteran director Barry Levinson, known for the classic film Rain Man, helms The Alto Knights, with a script penned by Nicholas Pileggi, the writer behind Goodfellas.

Despite a busy year for Warner Bros., the film The Alto Knights didn’t perform well at the box office. It cost $50 million to make, but only brought in $9.6 million worldwide. Critics weren’t impressed either, with a 39% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Despite the disappointing reviews and box office performance of The Alto Knights, Robert De Niro plans to continue making crime films. He’s already finished filming a new thriller based on Alex North’s 2019 novel of the same name. The story centers on a crime novelist whose son is kidnapped, forcing him to seek help from his estranged, retired detective father. Their investigation soon connects to a cold case involving a notorious serial killer known as ‘The Whisper Man’.

James Ashcroft directed The Whisper Man, which features Michelle Monaghan, Adam Scott, and Michael Keaton. Filming finished last June, and the movie is scheduled to be released on Netflix in 2026.

The Family is available to stream on Tubi.

Read More

2026-01-13 01:14