Although Liam Neeson‘s action thriller Blacklight originally released in 2022 with little attention, it has recently surged in popularity on the streaming platform Tubi. The movie has now reached the No. 9 position on Tubi’s Top 10 Overall chart, signaling a surprising resurgence for the film four years after its initial debut.
Alongside Blacklight, other action films such as Triple 9, Push, and Unhinged have also climbed onto Tubi’s Top 10 list, placing at No. 4, No. 5, and No. 10 respectively. The rest of the chart features established favorites like Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, which currently holds the No. 1 spot, while Men in Black and Beverly Hills Cop follow at No. 2 and No. 3.
Overview of Blacklight and Neeson’s Role
In Blacklight, Liam Neeson portrays Travis Block, a serious and intense FBI fixer who is responsible for dealing with agents whose identities have been compromised. As he investigates, Block discovers a conspiracy that extends into the highest levels of government. The thriller was directed and co-written by Mark Williams, who had previously collaborated with Neeson on the 2020 film Honest Thief.
While Neeson received positive feedback for Honest Thief, Blacklight’s reception was far less favorable among critics, many of whom considered this performance among Neeson’s weakest. Criticism also targeted the film’s story, action sequences, and overall direction. On Rotten Tomatoes, Blacklight holds a low critics’ rating of just 12%. Despite this, audiences responded more positively, awarding the film an 82% audience score.
Box Office Performance and Subsequent Films
Despite the favorable audience reaction, Blacklight did not perform well at the box office, earning only $16 million worldwide against a $43 million production budget. This poor performance was part of a trend for Neeson, as his next seven films also failed to achieve notable theatrical success. It was not until the release of The Naked Gun reboot last summer that Neeson experienced a box office turnaround.
The Naked Gun, which reimagined Leslie Nielsen’s classic comedy trilogy, proved both a commercial and critical success. The film earned $102 million globally, more than doubling its $42 million budget. Neeson’s portrayal of Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Nielsen’s original character Frank Drebin, received commendation from reviewers.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming Projects and Streaming Availability
Fans anticipating new Neeson projects can look forward to the upcoming comedy horror film Cold Storage, adapted from David Koepp’s novel. The movie is scheduled for a theatrical release on February 13. In the meantime, viewers interested in revisiting Neeson’s more serious roles can find Blacklight available for streaming on Tubi.
Main Cast of Blacklight
The film features Liam Neeson alongside a supporting cast that includes Aidan Quinn, Yael Stone, and Claire van der Boom. Their performances contribute to the tense atmosphere of this conspiracy-driven action thriller.
“The Naked Gun, a reboot of the Leslie Nielsen comedy trilogy, was a critical and commercial success. The movie earned $102 million worldwide against a $42 million budget. Critics also praised Neeson’s performance as Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Nielsen’s Frank Drebin.” – Source
