A 2016 action movie starring Tom Cruise has seen a surge in popularity on streaming services years after its release in theaters. “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” was watched for nearly 700 million minutes last week on Netflix and Paramount+, showing the film still attracts viewers.
The movie follows the character Jack Reacher, a former military police officer played by Cruise. In the film, Reacher teams up with Major Susan Turner, played by Cobie Smulders, to uncover a conspiracy while evading espionage charges. When it came to theaters, the movie received mixed reviews but made over $160 million worldwide.
Streaming viewership data from The Hollywood Reporter shows just how many people are watching the movie now. “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” had 697 million minutes viewed from July 29 to August 4. That’s more than recent blockbusters like “Planet of the Apes” with 560 million minutes and “Trolls” with 506 million minutes, both on Hulu.
Not everyone enjoyed the movie or agreed with Cruise as the character. In Lee Child’s books, Reacher is very tall, but Cruise is shorter. Some fans and reviewers criticized plot issues too. Still, others said Cruise captured Reacher’s personality.
The new “Reacher” series on Amazon Prime Video starring Alan Ritchson draws praise for portraying Reacher more like in the books. This may have sparked renewed interest in the earlier films. Ritchson said being compared to a “legendary actor” like Cruise is an “honor.”
The film’s recent streaming popularity raises questions about the future of the Reacher franchise. While another Cruise movie seems unlikely, it shows how people keep discovering the character years later on different platforms. As streaming revives older movies, businesses will watch to see what’s next.
