Gene Hackman’s 2003 Legal Thriller Is a New Netflix Hit in the US
The movie with a star-studded cast has already spent several days in the streamer’s US top.
Despite Gene Hackman having been a real star of Western movies, more of his flicks of other genres are getting attention now in the wake of the actor’s mysterious death several weeks ago.
Hackman passed away at the age of 95 and has been in retirement for the past couple of decades, though before officially quitting the industry he got one of the leading roles in a legal thriller released back in 2003.
Helmed by Gary Fleder, the flick stars a bunch of other prominent figures in Hollywood and eventually received warm welcome upon its release, though didn’t perform quite well in the box office.
However, the movie is currently getting a second life on Netflix right now and arrived in the streamer’s top chart some time ago.
Runaway Jury Suddenly Enters Netflix’s US Top Chart
Apparently, the movie has been in there for a while now as it’s currently sitting on the 10th position in Netflix’s US top and before that had a bit higher ranking with the 8th position, according to FlixPatrol.
Based on John Grisham’s 1996 novel of the same name, Runaway Jury follows the events after a workplace shooting happens in New Orleans, and, in an attempt to bring the gun manufacturer to justice, lawyer Wendell Rohr and shady jury consultant Rankin Fitch collide as the latter seeks illegal ways to make a jury comprised of people who will eventually side with the defence.
Tables turn when juror Nicholas Easter and his girlfriend Marlee promise to find a way to make the jury deliver any verdict they want, and stakes get higher than ever in the cat-and-mouse game.
Despite Critical Acclaim, Runaway Jury Was a Major Box Office Flop
Apart from Gene Hackman, the movie also stars John Cusack, Dustin Hoffman, Rachel Weisz, Bruce Davison, Bruce McGill, Jeremy Piven and Nick Searcy among others, though the star-packed cast wasn’t a guarantee for commercial success.
Runaway Jury wrapped its theatrical run up with $80 million in the box office against its initial impressive budget of $60 million. However, the film didn’t do that bad with critics and, surprisingly, with viewers too, as it still holds scores of 73% and 75% respectively on Rotten Tomatoes.
Despite Runaway Jury being about to leave Netflix’s chart after a short successful run in the top 10, the movie might have just received a second chance it deserved all along.
