The 2019 movie starring Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson has been steadily climbing the top 10 charts on Netflix since its release. This comes as no surprise, as the film has received a near-perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Typically, older movies that make it onto a streaming service’s charts do so despite their lack of success with critics or at the box office. For example, the poorly received film On the Line, starring Mel Gibson, found a second chance on Netflix, as did the overlooked movie The Great Wall, starring Pedro Pascal.
Despite being an indie flick, The Peanut Butter Falcon proved to be successful in both aspects upon its release in 2019. Not only did it earn $23 million with a budget of $6 million, but it also received high praise from both audiences and critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with ratings of 96% and 95% respectively.
The first film directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz was released on Netflix on May 5th and has quickly climbed to the sixth spot in the top 10 movies list, which can be viewed below.
- Shrek
- Unfrosted
- The Judge
- One More Shot
- Shrek Forever After
- The Peanut Butter Falcon
- Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
- The Great Wall
- The Equalizer
- Blended
The Peanut Butter Falcon is a contemporary adaptation of Huckleberry Finn, focusing on Zak (Zack Gottsagen), a nursing home resident with Down’s syndrome who aspires to be a wrestler.
One evening, Zak makes the decision to break out of the institution in order to chase after his aspirations. On his journey, he comes across Tyler (LaBeouf), a petty criminal who is fleeing from the law. Despite their differences, the two develop an unexpected connection as they set off on an adventure together.
While exploring the beautiful scenery of North Carolina, Zak and Tyler face a variety of obstacles and exciting experiences. At the same time, Eleanor (Johnson), a compassionate social worker, embarks on a mission to locate Zak. Upon catching up with them and discovering the truth, she joins them on their journey.
Amidst the numerous glowing reviews, one standout aspect of The Peanut Butter Falcon is its ability to evoke a sense of warmth and emotion without feeling forced or cliché. The cast, especially Gottsagen in the lead role, was also highly praised.
The role was custom made for him by writer-directors Tyler Nilson and Mike Schwartz, who were amazed by his talents showcased at a camp for actors with disabilities, as reported by the Guardian. Gottsagen’s portrayal in this rustic tale is emotionally gripping, fulfilling the initial promise of his capabilities.
Empire also stated that “This is LaBeouf at his finest, showcasing his raw talent and surrounded by two outstanding performances from Gottsagen and Johnson. While the script may have some minor flaws and lacks the grandness of Huckleberry Finn, it still manages to touch the heart with its heartfelt portrayal of parenthood.”
To discover additional movies, be sure to browse through the list of new releases coming to streaming this month. You can also read our compilation of the top films of 2024 thus far.
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