This Underrated ’90s Horror Film is Finally Getting Its Due on Netflix (And Just Begging for A Sequel)

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Streaming services are changing how we experience movies, making age less important. Films that weren’t successful when first released can suddenly become popular, and movies from any era can find an audience. Netflix’s Top 10 list perfectly illustrates this – it’s a mix of current releases, classics, and even older films that unexpectedly gain attention.

Here’s a great example: a film originally released in 1998 is currently a top 10 hit on Netflix. Though it didn’t do well in theaters, it became popular with a dedicated fanbase on DVD and VHS. Now, nearly three decades later, it’s being rediscovered and resonating with viewers today.

Fallen (1998) Cracks Netflix’s Top 10 Rankings

The movie Fallen has quickly become a hit on Netflix in the U.S., reaching the Top 10 just one week after it was added. Directed by Gregory Hoblit, known for shows like NYPD Blue and films like Primal Fear, it features Denzel Washington playing John Hobbes, a police detective in Philadelphia.

The movie opens with Hobbes witnessing the execution of Edgar Reese, the famous serial killer he captured. But once Reese is gone, Hobbes finds himself hunted by a new killer who perfectly copies Reese’s crimes. As Hobbes investigates, he begins to doubt he’s dealing with a normal human and suspects a demonic entity is responsible, specifically targeting him for stopping Reese.

Fallen Helped Launch the “Big Twist” Trend In Movies

As stated, Fallen was a box office flop when it hit theaters in 1998, earning just $25.2 million against a budget of $46 million. However, when it started gaining a cult following on home video and DVD in 1999, it ended up being an early harbinger of Hollywood’s newest trend at the time, ‘the big twist.’ Without getting into spoilers, Fallen is a movie with several big twist moments, including an ending that either hits viewers with a big surprise or falls flat entirely. It is definitely a film that requires a second viewing, once you know how it all plays out.

The next two years, 1999-2000, would see the release of so many big twist films (The Sixth Sense, The Matrix, Fight Club, American Beauty, Memento, Unbreakable, Snatch, and others) that the trope went from being a feature of a few films (Primal Fear, Scream, The Game) to the biggest trope fans started to expect (even demand) from movies for the next decade. Fallen is still ranked among the best twist movies of that era, with good reason.

Fallen Is Denzel Washington’s Only Horror Film

Denzel Washington is widely considered one of the best actors of his time. He’s earned numerous Academy Awards and has acted in a huge variety of movies – everything from mysteries and science fiction to historical dramas, intense action films, and suspenseful thrillers. Surprisingly, despite appearing in over 50 films, he’s only starred in one true horror movie, and that’s Fallen.

Denzel Washington, growing up with a preacher as a father, generally approaches stories with religious elements thoughtfully and admits to being somewhat superstitious, especially when it comes to horror. That’s why the premise of Fallen caught his attention. He explained to The Standard in 2012, “I’m always looking for compelling narratives, and the classic battle between good and evil in Fallen really appealed to me.”

The Cast Is Stacked

Fallen‘s cast will surprise most viewers who press “play” on the film. In addition to Denzel Washington, Gregory Hoblit is a multi-Emmy-winning director whose filmography now includes some of the most acclaimed police drama TV shows and B-movie thrillers. The supporting cast is all top talent: John Goodman plays Hobbes’ partner, Detective Jones, creating a nice onscreen pairing with Washington. Modern moviegoers will definitely recognize one scene between Washington and Goodman, which spawned the now-famous meme of Denzel holding his chest and looking relieved.

Donald Sutherland plays Lieutenant Stanton, the boss of detectives Hobbes and Jones, and Elias Koteas (known from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Shutter Island) appears as the dangerous criminal Edgar Reese. James Gandolfini, famous for his role in The Sopranos, has a small part as an annoying detective that Hobbes and Jones have to deal with. His Sopranos co-star, Aida Turturro, who played Tony’s sister Janice, also appears in the detective’s office. Interestingly, a snippet of one of Tony and Janice Soprano’s arguments is actually featured in Drake’s current hit song, “Janice STFU.” Embeth Davidtz (Mansfield Park, Army of Darkness) plays Gretta Milano, the daughter of a police officer who previously fought the same demon and is now a demon hunter herself. The film also includes brief appearances from Robert Joy (From) and Cress Williams (Black Lightning), offering fun ‘wait, I know that actor!’ moments for viewers.

Fallen Needs A Sequel

Looking back, Fallen really showcases a lot of acting talent. The film hinges on the idea of demonic possession spreading through physical contact, and almost every actor had to convincingly portray their character while possessed. This meant the entire cast needed to be skilled performers.

This presents a unique chance, similar to the Final Destination series. Fallen only requires its central idea of possession through touch and a strong group of actors to succeed, making future installments – whether sequels or prequels – potentially inexpensive to produce. Given the current state of the horror market, Warner Bros. might be able to successfully relaunch the franchise and profit from it.

Fallen is now streaming on Netflix.

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2026-06-11 01:55