Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Michael Douglas’ $78M Flop The Sentinel Surprises All as It Becomes a Global Netflix Sensation After Nearly 20 Years!

Michael Douglas‘ action movie, which disappointed with $78 million at the box office, has unexpectedly turned into a global sensation on Netflix 19 years later. The film, directed by Clark Johnson and based on a novel by former Secret Service Agent Gerald Petievich, follows a veteran Secret Service agent, played by Douglas, who is framed for an assassination attempt on the president. As he races against time to prove his innocence and uncover the real traitor, the story unfolds in a thrilling manner that resonates with audiences.

Douglas, the son of actors Kirk Douglas and Diana Dill, first gained recognition on the ABC police procedural The Streets of San Francisco, earning three consecutive Emmy nominations. His breakthrough film role came with Romancing the Stone, but it was his performance as Gordon Gekko in Wall Street that solidified his status, winning him an Academy Award for Best Actor. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Douglas starred in iconic films such as Fatal Attraction, The War of the Roses, and Basic Instinct, reinforcing his reputation in the industry.

In the 2000s, however, Douglas faced challenges at the box office, with several films, including The Sentinel, receiving mixed reviews and poor commercial success. Despite such setbacks, the late 2010s saw a resurgence in Douglas’ career with successful projects like Behind the Candelabra and The Kominsky Method, along with his participation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Sentinel’s unexpected resurgence on Netflix has made it a global hit nearly two decades after its original release. This political action thriller has garnered significant viewership on the platform, ranking second in Netflix’s Global Top 10 movies for the week, with 7.9 million views and 14.2 million hours watched. The film’s popularity spans 80 countries, securing the number one spot in places like the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Ireland, and Kenya. However, it’s important to note that The Sentinel is not available on Netflix in the United States; it can be found on Prime Video instead.

Upon its 2006 release, The Sentinel grossed only $78 million at the box office, disappointing given its $60 million budget and star-studded cast. The film faced largely negative reviews, with critics acknowledging its intriguing premise while pointing out numerous plot holes and predictable action sequences. BBC’s Stella Papamichael humorously remarked that the film was “as compelling as watching the ink dry on a superfluous UN treaty.” In contrast, some critics, including Roger Ebert, praised it as a “well-crafted thriller.”

The resurgence of The Sentinel on Netflix highlights the enduring appeal of political action thrillers, especially in the streaming era. While it may not be the best representation of Michael Douglas’ career or his strongest performance, for those seeking a well-crafted thriller, as Ebert noted, The Sentinel is certainly worth watching. This surprising success reflects how tastes can evolve over time and how films once overlooked can find new life on modern platforms.

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