More than ten years after Jamie Foxx’s Oscar-winning performance in Ray, his 2017 action thriller Sleepless is now trending on HBO Max worldwide. The film has climbed to become one of the most-watched titles on the streaming service, demonstrating a surprising resurgence long after its initial box office disappointment.
According to FlixPatrol data, Sleepless ranks as the fifth most-watched movie on HBO Max globally, surpassing other popular films like The Phoenician Scheme, The Duchess, As Above, So Below, Ma, and Jurassic World Rebirth. This renewed interest highlights a shift in how some films find audiences well after their original release dates.
Background and Plot of Sleepless
Directed by Baran bo Odar, Sleepless is a remake of the 2011 French film Sleepless Night. The screenplay, written by Andrea Berfloff, features Foxx as Vincent Downs, an undercover police officer in Las Vegas. The story centers on a night filled with danger involving corrupt officers, internal affairs, and violent criminals.
The film’s plot intensifies when a botched heist leads to the abduction of Downs’ teenage son. Vincent must race against time throughout one chaotic night to rescue his son and bring the criminals to justice.
“Vincent finds himself caught in a high-stakes web of corrupt cops, internal affairs, and murderous gangsters. When a failed heist leads to the kidnapping of his teenage son, Downs must race against time during a wild and restless night to save him and bring the criminals to justice.”
— Official description of Sleepless
Cast and Initial Reception
The movie featured a notable cast including Michelle Monaghan, Dermot Mulroney, David Harbour, Tip T.I. Harris, and Gabrielle Union, alongside Foxx. Despite the star power, Sleepless underperformed financially, earning $32.9 million worldwide against a $30 million budget, falling short of profitability.
Critically, it received a poor reception with a 25% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and only 37% approval from approximately 5,000 audience reviews. This made Sleepless one of Foxx’s least successful films in terms of box office and critical response.
Upcoming Boxing Roles for Jamie Foxx
Looking ahead, Foxx has two boxing-related projects in the works. The first, Fight for ’84, is a semi-autobiographical Netflix drama currently in post-production. Foxx portrays a coach tasked with rebuilding the United States Olympic boxing team after a tragic plane crash wiped out the original roster.
Additionally, he will star as legendary boxer Mike Tyson in the TV series Tyson, which is reportedly in development. DeShawn Harold Mitchell, known from Godfather of Harlem, joins Foxx in this project expected to delve into Tyson’s life and career.
Sleepless continues to be available to stream not only on HBO Max worldwide but also on Starz within the United States.
