Dakota Johnson’s latest film, Daddio, has found unexpected success on streaming platforms after a challenging theatrical run. The movie, which premiered at the 50th Telluride Film Festival in 2023, struggled to attract audiences in theaters but has recently become one of the top five most-watched films on Max, according to FlixPatrol’s recent data. The surge comes just months after Johnson’s previous project Madame Web, which underperformed at the global box office despite a recognizable ensemble cast.
In its latest streaming push, Daddio finished third among the platform’s most popular films, accumulating a total of 170 points in a single day—trailing only behind horror releases Speak No Evil and Companion, and surpassing Kraven the Hunter, another superhero film connected to the same shared universe as Madame Web. This turnaround provides a fresh highlight in Dakota Johnson’s career, demonstrating her capacity to draw viewers in the digital space even when traditional box office returns falter.
Directed by Christy Hall, Daddio is an indie drama set almost entirely inside a New York City cab. Dakota Johnson stars as a young woman returning home, while Sean Penn features as the cab driver who engages her in an extended, probing conversation about significant relationships in their lives. This tightly focused concept has been praised for its performances and its visual style, with Phedon Papamichael’s cinematography drawing positive attention. The film has a 76% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus states,
“A ruminative chamber piece on wheels, Daddio feels expansive thanks to Dakota Johnson and Sean Penn’s compelling rapport.”
Collider’s Matthew Donato observed that while the film may not be
“incendiary, enigmatic, or challenging enough to justify sticking audiences shotgun as randos blither like long-lost companions,”
it maintains a strong sense of character-driven intimacy.
Despite a modest $2 million haul at the box office, the film’s streaming performance has helped reframe Daddio’s reception. The journey illustrates an evolving shift in how audiences discover and support smaller dramas, especially those featuring established stars like Dakota Johnson. While the financial results in theaters may have been disappointing, the streaming boost points to a resurgence in audience interest.
After weathering the critical and commercial fallout from Madame Web, Dakota Johnson is poised for another big-screen opportunity with Materialists, directed by Celine Song and starring alongside Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal. With Daddio finding its audience online, the actress’s trajectory remains a subject of intrigue, as industry observers watch to see if this new wave of streaming recognition translates into a renewed presence in theaters. As Dakota Johnson continues to navigate these shifts in film distribution and reception, her adaptability underscores a career marked by both challenge and resilience.
