The 2018 remake of the classic rom-com Overboard, originally starring Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, will be available on Netflix starting February 6 in the United States. This film revisits the original 1987 story with a gender-flipped twist and stars Anna Faris alongside Eugenio Derbez. Netflix will debut Overboard along with other originals such as Queen of Chess, Salvador season 1, and Yoh! Bestie on the same day.
Overview of the Original and Remake Versions
The original 1987 Overboard featured Goldie Hawn as Joanna, who suffers amnesia after falling off her yacht, and Kurt Russell as Dean, a carpenter who tricks her into believing they are married. Directed by Garry Marshall and written by Leslie Dixon, the film earned $26.7 million at the box office. Though critics gave it a 46% Rotten Tomatoes score, audience reception was more positive with a 74% rating.
The 2018 remake, directed by Rob Greenberg, flips the narrative by giving Derbez’s male character amnesia while Faris’s female lead seeks revenge by convincing him they are married. Along with the leads, Eva Longoria, Mel Rodriguez, Hannah Nordberg, Alyvia Alyn Lind, and Payton Lepinski round out the cast. This version grossed $91 million and debuted at number two behind Avengers: Infinity War during its theatrical release.
Critical and Audience Reception to the Remake
The remake did not fare well with critics, receiving only a 24% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a middling 54% from audiences. Despite this, it gained three Teen Choice Award nominations, including Choice Comedy Movie and acting nods for both Derbez and Faris. However, Love, Simon and actors like Dwayne Johnson and Anna Kendrick ultimately took home the awards in these categories.
Additional Streaming Titles and Context for Netflix’s February Lineup
February’s Netflix slate includes a variety of film genres, with notable arrivals such as Crazy, Stupid, Love, Ex Machina, the How to Train Your Dragon series in both animated and live-action formats, Independence Day, Lee Daniels’ The Butler, Mrs. Doubtfire, The American President, You’ve Got Mail, Zero Dark Thirty, The Black Phone, The Addams Family, The Expendables, and Jurassic World: Rebirth. None of these titles overlap with other platforms, making Netflix the exclusive home for the Overboard remake during this window.
Legacy and Future Impact of Overboard’s Netflix Release
Bringing the 2018 Overboard remake to Netflix broadens its audience reach nearly eight years after its initial release, giving viewers who may have missed it in theaters a new opportunity to engage with this contemporary adaptation of a beloved rom-com. With Kurt Russell Overboard Netflix now part of a popular streaming catalog, it is positioned to spark renewed interest in the story’s gender role reversal and comedic premise while solidifying its place in rom-com discussions moving forward.
