As a movie enthusiast, I’ve noticed an intriguing trend in today’s cinematic landscape: movies that didn’t quite capture the magic on the big screen are finding a new lease of life on streaming platforms. The rising costs of tickets and the aftermath of the pandemic have left many cinephiles cautious about their theater visits, often opting to wait for films to arrive at home.
This shift has given birth to an interesting phenomenon: movies that flopped or underperformed in theaters are finding a massive second audience on streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. A prime example is Bong Joon-ho’s sci-fi film, “Mickey 17”, which was a disappointment at the box office for Warner Bros., but found its groove when it moved to streaming. Similarly, Disney’s live-action “Snow White” remake saw impressive numbers on streaming after disappointing box office returns, demonstrating that low ticket sales don’t always reflect a lack of interest.
Currently, this trend is playing out for a high-profile action thriller that hit theaters in April. The film, which boasts an impressive cast, is now finding a new life on streaming platforms, proving that the silver screen isn’t always the final destination for every movie.
The movie dominating the streaming rankings is titled “The Amateur“, a gripping spy thriller helmed by director James Hawes. In this film, Rami Malek portrays Charlie Heller, a talented yet understated CIA cryptographer whose world crumbles when his wife (Rachel Brosnahan) perishes in a London terrorist attack. Overwhelmed by sorrow and angered by the agency’s lack of action, Heller uncovers the identities of those responsible. Leveraging this information, he coerces his own agency to train him as a field agent, allowing him to pursue the killers himself. This transformation from desk-bound analyst to global operative thrusts Heller into perilous situations where he must rely on his wit and newly acquired abilities to seek vengeance.
The movie is an adaptation of Robert Littell’s 1981 novel and boasts a strong supporting ensemble. Laurence Fishburne portrays a senior CIA director, while Caitríona Balfe, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Holt McCallany play crucial roles as well. Positioned as a contemporary reimagining of the revenge thriller, it aimed to capitalize on Malek’s rising stardom following his Academy Award win in Bohemian Rhapsody. Regrettably, despite its talented cast and familiar genre foundation, the film failed to resonate with audiences during its initial release.
Why Did The Amateur Fail at the Box Office?
On April 11, 2025, the movie “The Amateur” debuted at the domestic box office, finishing third behind the blockbuster hit “A Minecraft Movie” and the religious film “King of Kings.” With an estimated production cost of $60 million, the film managed to earn a total of about $96 million globally throughout its entire cinematic release. Despite recovering its production costs, the movie is considered financially unsuccessful because it usually needs to earn around double its budget to be profitable after considering marketing and distribution expenses, making its theatrical run a disappointment. This underwhelming performance can largely be attributed to its mediocre critical response.
The movie currently has a somewhat mediocre rating of 52 on Metacritic and only just manages to be considered “Fresh” with 60% on Rotten Tomatoes by critics. Critics generally agreed that while Rami Malek gave an impressive performance, the movie itself was a typical and predictable spy thriller lacking originality in its genre. With reviews that didn’t create much excitement, it’s possible that people were hesitant to buy tickets for an action film that wasn’t highly recommended as a must-watch event.
Instead, the audience rating of “The Amateur ” on Rotten Tomatoes stands at a robust 87%, suggesting that those who did watch it found it largely enjoyable. This gap in ratings is significant in explaining its current popularity among streamers. Now easily accessible on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally, potential viewers can tune in without any additional cost, thanks to this convenient availability. Consequently, “The Amateur” has climbed to the top spot among Hulu’s most-watched movies in the US and Disney+’s charts in international markets.
The Amateur is currently streaming on Hulu.
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2025-07-30 11:40