An Overlooked Gerard Butler Action Thriller Is Finally Finding An Audience On Netflix
Viewers have given the film an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with more than 250 verified reviews praising its emotional beats and humanized portrayal of all the main characters. One fan summed it up by saying they "always enjoy a good Gerard Butler movie" and were "pleasantly surprised with how much this movie got me in the feels."
That word-of-mouth, plus Butler's name recognition, seems to have helped turn "Kandahar" into yet another example of Netflix's ability to breathe new life into a title that I certainly don't remember getting much traction in theaters upon its initial release.
Read more: 37 Shows And Movies Hit Netflix Today, And Here Are 3 You Should Stream
Why Kandahar Is Suddenly A Netflix Hit
Netflix's Top 10 lists, which feature both TV shows and movies, are basically the re-animators of the streaming world, helping all sorts of forgotten titles find a second life for a whole host of reasons. A title's sudden climb might owe more to curiosity than actual enthusiasm, while a familiar star (like Butler) in a thumbnail can be enough to get viewers to hit play even if they know nothing about the movie. Sometimes, though, that curiosity turns into genuine appreciation, which seems to be the case with "Kandahar."
Butler brings his familiar gruff action-hero presence here, but I'd also argue that "Kandahar" has more depth than the average shoot-'em-up. Against the backdrop of war-torn Afghanistan, Butler plays a covert CIA operative racing to safety "when his identity is leaked," according to the official Netflix summary. And viewers have responded to that setup by praising its combination of adrenaline and emotion. In other words, this one has the hallmarks of the sort of mid-budget, grown-up thriller that doesn't come around often in theaters anymore, yet on Netflix it's found new life and a fresh wave of fans.
As a testament to how well it's performing on the streaming giant right now, "Kandahar" (directed by Ric Roman Waugh and written by Mitchell LaFortune), is also sitting right behind the Netflix blockbuster "KPop Demon Hunters," the animated K-pop-themed musical that's currently #1 and which has spent a staggering two months on Netflix's global Top 10 chart since its release.
Read the original article on BGR.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
32 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Follow the money: Boston's Insta-fueled cash hunt
Advertisement For But Beumee also sees something deeper at play; a current of economic anxiety, if you will. A New York City transplant, she quickly noticed the refrain that there's nothing to do in Boston that's affordable. People would comment on her social media posts: 'I leave my apartment and I'm spending $100 a day,' she told me. In response, she launched her $20 challenge online. Advertisement 'I explore different neighborhoods in and around Boston and spend $20 or less because there's actually a lot to do,' Beumee said. 'You can pair a free thing and then try out this restaurant. Or if you use your Massachusetts license or your library card, you can get a discount on a ticket. I've done Fenway, Charlestown, Beacon Hill, and Harvard Square, and spent $20 or less.' Free-cash accounts, she said, are masters of serial content, and their success is a reflection of how audiences consume entertainment or recreational content nowadays. 'It's an easy engagement hack,' Beumee said. 'Serial content is one of the most strategic and easiest ways to grow. Social media is becoming Netflix for some people. They [follow] these accounts and creators that they view as characters.' It's the equivalent of a reality TV show but on Instagram. Eventually, Beumee theorized, once these accounts have garnered a big enough public — Find the Cash Boston currently has 164,000 followers — they could partner with brands, like doing a cash drop at a pop-up or event to get people in the door. 'The initial $100 [giveaway] is an investment in building an audience.' The appeal of 'Find the Cash' is obvious — what's not to like about free money? Beyond the scramble for cash, it also perfectly captures the current moment: Money is tight, attention is currency, and entertainment often comes in the form of public spectacle. Advertisement This is an excerpt from , a Globe Opinion newsletter from columnist Marcela García. . Marcela García is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at
New York Post
32 minutes ago
- New York Post
Katie Lowes teases ‘The Hunting Wives' Season 2 return after Jill's death
It's an old wives' tale. 'The Hunting Wives' star Katie Lowes could return to the hit steamy thriller in Season 2, even after her character's dramatic death. 'Anything's possible, right? I definitely think Jill is dead,' Lowes, 42, exclusively told The Post. Advertisement 'I keep getting texts like 'she's not dead. She's in a coma,'' she laughed. 8 Katie Lowes on 'The Hunting Wives.' Lionsgate The 'Scandal' actress explained, 'We know that the [show's] world is wild and out there. So, who knows? But, I think that hopefully there could always be flashbacks.' Advertisement 'The Hunting Wives' has not officially confirmed a Season 2 renewal. But the series, now on Netflix, was the most-streamed show the first week of August, raking up over 2 billion minutes viewed, per Deadline. 8 Malin Akerman and Brittany Snow in 'The Hunting Wives.' Netflix The raunchy hit follows Sophie (Brittany Snow), a Massachusetts woman who relocates to Texas thanks to her husband's job. Soon, she becomes entangled in the web of her new friend Margo Banks (Malin Akerman), the Queen Bee leader of the local community. Advertisement Margo presides over a clique of moms and socialites who like shooting guns – and, she also has affairs with men and women alike, including fellow member of their girl group, Callie (Jaime Ray Newman) and her friend Jill's (Lowes) son, Brad (George Ferrier). Jill is the local preacher's wife and a basketball mom – and she's oddly possessive of Brad. 8 Jaime Ray Newman, Malin Akerman, Brittany Snow, and Katie Lowes in 'The Hunting Wives.' Netflix 8 Katie Lowes in 'The Hunting Wives.' Lionsgate Advertisement 8 Katie Lowes, Brittany Snow, and Malin Akerman in 'The Hunting Wives.' Netflix 'People would ask me if that was hard to play [Jill],' Lowes told The Post. 'Obviously, her marriage is horrible. She got married very young. And I think she's incredibly lonely, and no one cares about her. And she's a very capable, smart woman. And her wires got crossed. And all of her life's passions just fell on Brad.' The actress added, 'She's so complicated and complex, it was so fun to play.' 8 George Ferrier as Brad in 'The Hunting Wives.' Lionsgate 8 Joyce Glenn, Brittany Snow, Katie Lowes, and Alexandria DeBerry on 'The Hunting Wives.' Netflix Things turn deadly when Brad's girlfriend, Abby (Madison Wolfe), turns up dead in the woods. That's far from the show's only casualty. Jill ends up killing Abby's mother, Starr (Chrissy Metz), in a violent confrontation, and Callie ends up shooting Jill. Advertisement 'Chrissy Metz and I were running around on set the night where we were both murdered, and we were calling it 'The Haunting,' like going around trying to scare everyone,' shared Lowes. 8 Katie Lowes as Jill and Jaime Ray Newman as Callie in 'The Hunting Wives.' Netflix The 'Inventing Anna' actress joked that she was 'honestly' a little disappointed that Jill didn't get the racy scenes her counterparts did. Lowes previously revealed she had originally auditioned for Callie. However, after she ended up playing Jill instead, who has no sex scenes, she decided to look on the bright side. Advertisement 'I made it 42 years without having to make that phone call to my dad saying, 'I just want to prepare you,'' she told The Post. Lowes added that she did get nude a few times during her college days at NYU for 'experimental theater,' but that was 'before the iPhone.' She quipped, 'And at the time, I thought I was making the best theater in the world. Looking back, maybe not… But it doesn't live on Netflix!'
New York Post
32 minutes ago
- New York Post
Tennis star Naomi Osaka sells plush LA pad to Nick and Vanessa Lachey for $7.95M — three years after buying it from them for $6.3M
Naomi Osaka is returning her keys. The four-time Grand Slam champion has sold her LA residence back to Nick and Vanessa Lachey for $7.95 million — roughly three years after buying the San Fernando Valley spread from the celebrity couple for $6.3 million. The transaction took place off-market, though records show the Tarzana home was quietly priced at $8.295 million in the local multiple listings service, according to the Wall Street Journal. Advertisement 15 Naomi Osaka has sold her Los Angeles home back to former owners Nick and Vanessa Lachey for $7.95 million. Neue Focus 15 Osaka sold the San Fernando Valley spread three years after buying it from them for $6.3 million. Neue Focus 15 The property, which wasn't publicly listed had an MLS asking price of $8.295 million. Neue Focus Advertisement During her ownership, Osaka undertook a substantial renovation, reworking the interiors and adding a separate structure that now houses a full gym and a spa-like recovery suite. The fitness facility features neon-lit motivational slogans, while the recovery area is outfitted with a sauna, cold plunge, steam room and massage table. Her signature bear-and-flower logo is embedded in the gym floor. 15 The Tarzana home spans about half an acre and features an outdoor pool, hot tub, and pickleball court. Neue Focus 15 The home occupies nearly 7,000 square feet. Neue Focus Advertisement 15 A billiards room. Neue Focus 15 Osaka renovated the interior and added a separate gym and 'recovery center' with a sauna, cold plunge, steam room, and massage table, along with neon motivational signs and her bear-and-flower logo on the gym floor. Neue Focus 15 The Lacheys, known for their roles as hosts of Netflix's 'Love Is Blind' and Nick's tenure in 98 Degrees, originally bought the home in 2020 for about $5 million before selling it to Osaka in 2021. Image Press Agency/NurPhoto / Shutterstock 15 Naomi Osaka. David Kirouac-Imagn Images Advertisement Situated on roughly half an acre, the compound includes a pool, hot tub and pickleball court, but — ironically — no tennis court. The main house offers five bedrooms, views of the surrounding mountains, and an open kitchen with a dedicated dining island. Amy Snider of Compass held the listing. The Lacheys, known for hosting Netflix's 'Love Is Blind' and, in Nick's case, for his role in boy band 98 Degrees, originally acquired the property in 2020 for about $5 million before selling it to Osaka the following year. 15 Tarzana, once a ranch owned by 'Tarzan' author Edgar Rice Burroughs, is known for its upscale homes, golf courses, and country clubs, with a median home sale price of $1.3 million in July. Neue Focus 15 The primary suite. Neue Focus 15 An ensuite bathroom. Neue Focus 15 One of five bedrooms. Neue Focus 15 A second bedroom. Neue Focus Advertisement 15 One of nine bathrooms. Neue Focus They recently listed another San Fernando Valley home, in nearby Encino, for $7.495 million. Tarzana, named to honor a former ranch that belonged to 'Tarzan' author Edgar Rice Burroughs, remains a sought-after enclave of golf courses, country clubs and high-end housing. In July, the median sale price there was $1.3 million, according to Redfin. Advertisement Osaka, who has captured two U.S. Open and two Australian Open titles, returned to professional play in January after giving birth to her daughter. This year, she exited in the first round of the French Open and reached the final of the Canadian Open —before falling to Victoria Mboko.
