Sometimes, movies that fail in theaters find new life on streaming platforms, like Assassin’s Creed. Similarly, two really bad video game movies on Netflix are currently sitting comfortably in the platform’s Global Top 10. We’re of course talking about the god-awful 2007 Hitman and its 2015 reboot, Hitman: Agent 47. These movies, based on the iconic stealth game/assassination sandbox game have found unexpected success on the popular streaming platform, but why?
Video Game Movies on Netflix
Netflix, nowadays is scrapping the bottom of the barrel for content. No longer, is the streaming giant churning out original, groundbreaking content. It is instead cashing in on old, forgotten summer flicks from 10-20 years ago, shoving them in front of their viewers, hoping something will stick. Of course, the cheapest content to buy for Netflix is terrible video game movies that no one asked for. Aside from the original Mortal Kombat, The Last of Us and the new Super Mario Bros. movie, video game adaptations have mostly flopped because most of them do not translate well on the big screen.
However, game franchises like The Hitman can work. A story about a no-nonsense assassin on a mission seems like a hit right? You’re wrong!
Hitman: Agent 47 & The Terrible Video Game Movies
The first Hitman movie, released in 2007, starred Timothy Olyphant as Agent 47. There’s no Diana, just some random Russian woman for a typical “girl tags along with a dangerous killer on his mission, and two fall in love” troupe. No surprise, the film bombed at the box office and is certified “rotten” on Rotten Tomatoes.
Fast forward to 2015, and Hollywood tried again with Hitman: Agent 47. Fingers were crossed as surely they won’t mess this up right? You’re wrong. The Rupert Friend starter managed to one-up its predecessor with an even more convoluted and over-the-top story that would rival the Fast & Furious franchise.
The Appeal of Bad Video Game Movies on Netflix
Although the Hitman movies are widely regarded as terrible video game movies, they still manage to draw in viewers. That’s mainly because the Hitman films barely made any headlines while they were in theaters. Unsuspected new audiences were subjected to these horrible adaptations for the first time. Still, for casual viewers, the movies’ action-packed sequences and flashy visuals may be enough to satisfy.
Netflix’s ability to give these underperforming films a second chance shows how streaming platforms are changing the way we consume media. Movies that once struggled at the box office now have the opportunity to find a new audience. In the case of the Hitman movies, this means getting another shot at success, even if they are still remembered as some of the worst video game adaptations ever made.
Even though both Hitman and Hitman: Agent 47 are considered terrible video game movies, their surprising resurgence on Netflix proves that even bad films can find success with the right audience. While these video game movies on Netflix may not appeal to die-hard fans of the Hitman franchise, they’ve certainly managed to attract the attention of someone at least.
