A 2000s Video Game Adaptation Unexpectedly Climbs Netflix Charts

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A 2000s Video Game Adaptation Unexpectedly Climbs Netflix Charts

Key Takeaways

  • Hitman surprises by climbing Netflix rankings, despite initial negative reviews. (95 characters)
  • Hitman: Agent 47 also finds success, surpassing its predecessor on streaming charts. (80 characters)
  • Hitman’s resurgence on Netflix may spark new interest in future Hitman adaptations. (84 characters)

As a seasoned gamer with decades worth of virtual blood spilled under my belt, I must say I was initially taken aback by the recent surge in popularity of the 2007 film adaptation of Hitman on Netflix. Back in ’07, I remember the critics tearing it to shreds, and I, being a dedicated fan of the video game franchise, wasn’t too thrilled either. But hey, hindsight is 20/20, right?

Reflecting back on those seventeen years since its debut, I can’t help but marvel at the resurgence of the action-packed thriller “Hitman” on Netflix’s global Top 10 streaming charts. Initially met with a lukewarm response in 2007, it seems this movie has found a second life on streaming platforms.

The movie “Hitman” is based on the video game series of the same name created by IO Interactive, where players take on the role of the lethal Agent 47. In this film, Timothy Olyphant portrays the assassin with a barcode tattoo, who becomes entangled in a complex political plot that has both Interpol and the Russian FSB hot on his heels. The film’s cast also includes Dougray Scott, Olga Kurylenko, and Robert Knepper, and it was helmed by director Xavier Gens, known for “Under Paris.

Hitman Appears in Top Netflix Rankings

A 2000s Video Game Adaptation Unexpectedly Climbs Netflix Charts

Contrary to Netflix’s other hit 2024 assassin movie titled “Hit Man” featuring Glen Powell, the unexpected rise of the 2007 film adaptation of “Hitman,” starring Timothy Olyphant, on the streaming charts might leave one puzzled. This film initially received poor reviews when it was released in 2007 and currently holds a dismal 16% rating on Rotten Tomatoes by critics. Despite this, Timothy Olyphant’s performance in “Hitman” is not viewed favorably. However, the film managed to outperform at the box office, earning nearly four times its initial $24 million investment.

Currently, the movie “Hitman” is gaining popularity once more, currently ranked ninth among Netflix’s most-watched movies globally with approximately 4.9 million hours viewed. Interestingly, the reboot of the franchise, “Hitman: Agent 47,” is doing even better and is placed seventh on Netflix’s weekly top list, with about 5.6 million hours watched. Remarkably, this film was less favorably received by critics, having only an 8% approval rating on the Tomatometer, but it still managed to generate $82 million at the box office. “Hitman: Agent 47” features Rupert Friend as Agent 47 and tells the story of his mission to halt a corporation from developing a group of assassins more deadly than him.

It appears that the resurgence in popularity of the Hitman movies on Netflix might be due to several factors. Firstly, both Hitman and Hitman: Agent 47 received generally positive responses from viewers, which was more than what critics had to say. Secondly, these films managed to recoup their production costs at the box office. Interestingly, in a 2022 survey, Hitman: Agent 47 was ranked among the top video game adaptations globally. This suggests that audience interest in the Hitman series is robust, and despite any critical reservations, it seems that viewers are eager to watch these movies. With their availability on a popular streaming service like Netflix, the Hitman franchise has experienced renewed success as a result.

Will There Be More Movies Based on Hitman?

A 2000s Video Game Adaptation Unexpectedly Climbs Netflix Charts

The uncertain future of “Hitman” in Hollywood is up for debate due to its mixed response. Both “Hitman” and the rebooted “Hitman: Agent 47” performed decently at the box office, but their lukewarm reception halted any plans for sequels. A sequel to “Hitman: Agent 47” was rumored to be in development, as reported by Fandomwire, but it was abandoned during the merger of 20th Century Fox and Disney. As a result, it has now been nearly a decade since a “Hitman” adaptation has been released.

In the realm of video games, IO Interactive has been consistently developing Hitman series, and the latest major installment, Hitman 3, was launched in 2021 to widespread acclaim. Afterward, the studio decided to pause production to concentrate on their upcoming James Bond game. However, they have assured fans that they will revisit Agent 47 when the perfect moment arises.

The same can’t be said for Hitman’s prospects in Hollywood. The most recent talk of a new Hitman adaptation came in 2017 when John Wick’s Derek Kolstad was attached to write a TV series for Hulu based on IO Interactive’s video game franchise. Some details about the series began to emerge in 2021, with Kolstad revealing one major change to Hulu’s prospective Hitman TV series would see Agent 47 with hair. In 2022, long-time Agent 47 voice actor David Bateson said (via The Gamer) he’d been keeping an eye on the show’s development but commented that things with the Hitman TV series seemingly “went dead.” The Hitman TV series is still listed as being in development on IMDb, but it hasn’t received any updates for some time.

Due to the surge in popularity of “Hitman” on Netflix’s streaming platform, there might be renewed interest in the Hulu TV series based on the same title, or perhaps a fresh “Hitman” movie could enter production. The successes of adaptations like HBO’s “The Last of Us” and Amazon Prime Video’s “Fallout” suggest that we’re currently experiencing a new golden age for video game adaptations. A new take on “Hitman” could potentially lead to an equally successful adaptation of IO Interactive’s video game series.

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2024-10-05 04:04