Barely two weeks since it dropped on Netflix, Red Notice is now the streaming giant's second most-watched movie of all time. The film features Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot in a blockbuster heist that combines action, comedy, and suspense. Johnson plays an FBI agent who reluctantly teams up with a notorious art thief (Reynolds) to catch a legendary criminal known as "The Bishop" (Gadot). Like other espionage films, Red Notice sees Johnson, Reynolds, and Gadot embark on a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase that takes them across the globe.
Premiering last Nov. 12, Red Notice had the best debut of any Netflix original film in the platform's history. It was reportedly watched by 4.2 million households in the U.S. over its debut weekend. The Johnson-Reynolds-Gadot team-up was also a massive hit internationally, staying on top of international charts since its release. Because of the film's widespread success, two sequels are currently in development.
Deadline reports that Red Notice is now the second most-watched movie in the history of Netflix. Currently, only in its second week, the film has already clocked in a total of 277.9M hours. It only needs a little over 4 million hours to surpass Bird Box, which had 282M hours within 28 days of release. Rounding up the top three is Chris Hemsworth's action movie Extraction with 231M hours. With more than two weeks from its 28-day deadline, it's safe to assume that Red Notice is on its way to beating Sandra Bullock's 2018 thriller for the coveted top spot.
Red Notice is also Netflix's most expensive film to date, with a hefty price tag of $200 million. Despite getting mixed reviews from critics, the movie's blockbuster success ultimately proved that the company's gamble has paid off. It also creates an opportunity for the film to develop into a massive franchise, with the back-to-back sequels already given a go-signal. Johnson acknowledged his movie's victory on social media and teased that there would be more to come.
Red Notice's phenomenal audience response can be attributed to its stellar cast. The combined star power of Johnson, Reynolds, and Gadot was more than enough to excite viewers to see the three A-listers in one movie. Interestingly, all three actors are also in major superhero franchises with Reynold's Deadpool, Gadot as Wonder Woman, and Johnson's upcoming Black Adam movie. While it is true that the whole heist plot has been done in Hollywood countless times before, the film's record-breaking numbers mean that it is worth the watch. Whether it's the presence of its lead actors or the movie's thrilling scenes, Red Notice definitely brings something extra to the table.
Source: Deadline