Despite returning the property to a dormant state after its release, Taron Egerton’s infamous Robin Hood reboot has found new life on streaming. Starring Egerton as the titular folklore rogue, Otto Bathurst’s 2018 movie saw a disgraced Robin take up arms against the corrupt powers ruling Nottingham that took his wealth and status to further their own cause, joining forces with the rebelling commoners. Robin Hood also starred Jamie Foxx as Robin’s accomplice John, Eve Hewson as his love interest Marian, and Ben Mendelsohn as the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Despite a poor performance at the box office and poor impressions on critics, Robin Hood is finding a surprising new audience on Netflix. Though it holds an unenviable 14% among critics’ reviews and a slightly more impressive but still unremarkable 39% among viewers, the feature recently entered Netflix’s Top 10 Movies. At the time of writing, Egerton’s 2018 reboot holds the No. 8 spot, coming in just ahead of both Jailbreak: Love on the Run and the 2018 Halloween legacy sequel.
Interestingly, Robin Hood is one of the few movies in Netflix’s Top 10 that wasn’t recently added to the streamer’s library, alongside Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington’s 2 Guns at No. 6 and Sing at No. 1. The rest of the streamer’s Top 10 Movies currently includes the recently debuted The Platform 2 at No. 2, Jason Statham’s The Mechanic remake at No. 3, the Chris Pratt-led The Garfield Movie at No. 4, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone’s Escape Plan at No. 5 and It Chpater Two at No. 7
What Robin Hood’s Streaming Resurgence Means For The Movie
The Story Was Outdated Before It Arrived In Theaters
Robin Hood has been one of cinema’s most recurring and enduring heroes, reimagined many times ever since the first movie starring the character debuted with the silent feature 1908’s Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Not only is his tale one that can be enjoyed by young and old viewers alike, but offers plenty of room for reinterpretations. From Errol Flynn’s character-defining take, to the beloved Disney animated fox, to even Mel Brooks’ absurd retelling, there are plenty of ways to reinterpret the character, with Hugh Jackman set to tell a darker take in The Death of Robin Hood.
However, while the more realistic retellings of classic tales and recognizable characters proved popular early in the decade in the wake of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, the growing popularity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a desire to see the more fantastical left the decision for a gritty and grounded Robin Hood adaptation poorly timed. As such, Robin Hood failed to connect with audiences, resulting in a reported loss of $83.7 million.
Though Egerton’s Robin Hood failed to find its viewership in its initial release, it does make sense how it has suddenly gathered some attention. Despite critical panning, Egerton, Foxx, and Mendelsohn are beloved actors in their own right, particularly as audiences wait for the former’s return to the Kingsman franchise and the latters’ recent hit with The Burial and upcoming Star Wars return in Andor season 2. And without a viewer having to pay for a ticket, open-minded watchers may be more keen to give it a chance.
Our Thoughts on Robin Hood’s Streaming Resurgence
Little Can Be Done To Save The Franchise Now
Despite this newfound audience, it is unlikely any follow-up will ever be made following Robin Hood‘s resurgence. Even at the time, Egerton’s involvement was almost ended due to scheduling conflicts with Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and since then, most of its stars have found greater success elsewhere. Nevertheless, its high viewership does show that viewers may be finding it a serviceable action movie to enjoy between a packed summer and fall slate.
Source: Netflix
