One of the last movies of the lateGene Hackmanhas entered the Netflix Top 10 Global Movies chart 22 years after its initial release.Hackman was one of the most revered and successful actorsin movie history, and enjoyed a strong filmography, which included a diverse mix of both blockbusters and character-driven dramas. He shot to prominence with early roles in movies likeBonnie and ClydeandI Never Sang For My Fatherbefore achieving global recognition and leading man status with the role of Popeye Doyle inWilliam Friedkin’s crime thrillerThe French Connection.
Hackman won an Oscar for his performanceand reprised his role in the follow-upThe French Connection II.He then went on to star in a number of successful and critically acclaimed box office hits, includingSuperman,Superman II,Mississippi Burning, andUnforgiven, for which he won his second Oscar. The ’90s brought less critical acclaim, but plenty of box office success. He also starred in the John Grisham adaptationsThe Firmin 1993 andThe Chamberin 1996, but it was his third Grisham thriller that is proving popular on streaming.
Runaway Jury Is Performing Well On Streaming
Viewers Are Tuning Into The Legal Thriller
Directed by Gary Fleder,Runaway Juryis based onthe Grisham bookof the same name, and was released theatrically in the United States in October 2003. It has a strong cast, including Hackman, John Cusack, Dustin Hoffman, Rachel Weisz, and Jeremy Piven, and the movie earned just over $80 million against a budget of $60 million. In addition to earning generally positive reviews,Runaway Juryis significant becauseit was Hackman’s penultimate movie before his retirement.
Now, around two decades after its release,Runaway Juryhas become an unexpected streaming hit, withNetflix Tudumrevealing it has debuted at #6 on the Top 10 Global Movies chart for the week of March 3 through March 9. It charted ahead ofMidnight in the Switchgrassat #7,Despicable Me 3at #8,Minionsat #9, andThe Boss Babyat #10. The top movie of the week was the Netflix OriginalPlankton: The Movie.Runaway Juryearned 4.5 million views and 9.2 million viewing hours, ranking on the individual Top 10 charts for six countries.
Our Take On Runaway Jury’s Streaming Success
The Late Actor’s Tragic Passing Will Have Generated Interest
Hackman’s tragic death, which was announced on February 26, has renewed interest in the star’s iconic back catalog, and will have been instrumental in generating viewer interest inRunaway Jury. While Hackman’s death is still fresh in the mind, there is a good chance the movie could continue to perform andmight well be on the Netflix charts for a few weeks longer.Runaway Jurymight not rank amongHackman’s best movies, but, being his penultimate project, it holds a special status for fans of the star and for movie aficionados, and its run on Netflix could trigger interest in more Hackman titles.
Runaway Jury
Cast
Runaway Jury (2003) is a legal thriller directed by Gary Fleder, based on John Grisham’s novel. The film follows a widow’s lawsuit against a powerful gun manufacturer after a shooting incident. John Cusack stars as a juror with hidden motives, with Gene Hackman playing a ruthless jury consultant and Dustin Hoffman as the prosecuting attorney. The film explores themes of corruption, justice, and manipulation within the American legal system.
