Angelina Jolie’s Wanted Is Now A Top United States Streaming Hit

by

Summary

  • Wanted is being rediscovered on Netflix, becoming a popular streaming hit.
  • The 2000s featured a surge in comic book adaptations, including Wanted.
  • Wanted was a rare successful R-rated action film, smashing the international box office.

Occasionally, an unexpected phenomenon occurs on streaming platforms such as Netflix: movies long forgotten by many viewers resurface and gain popularity. And guess what? It’s happening once more!

In the late 2000s, it’s no secret that comic book adaptations were hugely popular. Movies starring characters like Batman and Spider-Man were consistently selling out cinemas, which meant almost every well-known comic was either being adapted or in the process of being adapted. Blockbusters for big names like Superman and the X-Men were common, and even projects that were once thought impossible to film, such as Watchmen, were given the go-ahead. Even adult-oriented comics like Sin City and V for Vendetta received big-budget productions. If you think that Marvel and DC are overwhelming now, you’d be surprised to know just how wild and unpredictable the comic book adaptation scene was in the 2000s! The film based on The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen reportedly led Sean Connery to (mostly) retire from acting altogether. It was certainly a unique period in Hollywood!

Currently, there seems to be a surge in viewers either newly discovering or re-exploring the 2008 film “Wanted” on Netflix. Interestingly, “Wanted” ranked as the tenth most streamed movie in the United States last week, with the majority of the top spots being occupied by Netflix Originals (such as “Happy Gilmore 2”), films featuring Adam Sandler (like the original “Happy Gilmore”), or recent releases (for instance, “Despicable Me 4”). What makes “Wanted” stand out is that it doesn’t fall into any of these categories, and its unexpected success underscores one of the unique aspects of streaming services like Netflix: the chance for obscure movies to be discovered by vast numbers of viewers who might not have watched them otherwise.

Wanted Is Well Worth Any Action Fan’s Time, Even If The Oft-Rumored Sequel Never Happens

“Bullet Curving” Is Super Cool, You Guys

Drawing inspiration from the comic book miniseries by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones, the movie “Wanted” unexpectedly burst onto the scene in the summer of 2008, demonstrating that R-rated action films could continue to generate significant revenue with careful execution. Operating on a budget of approximately $75 million, “Wanted” made a massive impact at the international box office, grossing over $342 million.

The story revolves around Wesley Gibson, portrayed by James McAvoy, who is revealed to be the son of a skilled assassin. This lineage bestows upon him an extraordinary ability to produce unusually high levels of adrenaline, effectively granting him superhuman powers. With this newfound capability, Wesley becomes a member of Angelina Jolie’s Fox and Morgan Freeman’s Mr. Sloan in the assassin guild known as the Fraternity. Consequently, a whirlwind of chaos and intense violence unfolds.

Timur Bekmambetov, a well-known Russian director, initially captured the attention of American audiences with an explosive debut, positioning him as a promising new talent in Hollywood (though he later failed to live up to expectations with his 2012 film “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”). On the other hand, James McAvoy demonstrated his star potential years before he became synonymous with the “X-Men” films following his role in the 2011 movie “X-Men: First Class”. The supporting cast, featuring Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, Terence Stamp, Common, and Chris Pratt (among others), is exceptional. Moreover, the unique ability of Fraternity members to bend bullets around solid objects, known as the “curved bullets” skill, is simultaneously ridiculous and incredibly cool.

Essentially, if you possess a Netflix subscription but haven’t watched the movie ‘Wanted’, join the crowd and give it a try. And for those who already have, perhaps it’s an excellent moment for a rewatch!

Wanted is currently available to stream on Netflix.

Read More

2025-08-04 04:15