One of Gerard Butler‘s most action-packed and underrated movies is making an unexpected comeback on streaming. Butler is no stranger to the action genre, starring in everything from Zack Snyder’s 300 to Den of Thieves, and more underrated and forgotten action flicks like Angel Has Fallen, Hunter Killer, Machine Gun Preacher, and RocknRolla. But, in between all those hits and underrated gems, Gerard Butler starred alongside Jamie Foxx in one of the most criminally underwatched action movies of the 2010s. It’s a good thing it’s now streaming on Netflix and shooting up the streaming charts.
Law Abiding Citizen is the film in question, and it’s currently a hit on Netflix. The movie was recently added to the streaming service, and it’s the fourth most popular movie on Netflix this week. Law Abiding Citizen was released in 2009 and directed by F. Gary Gray, based on a script penned by Kurt Wimmer. The film features a strong supporting cast, including Leslie Bibb, Colm Meaney, Bruce McGill, and Michael Irby. Butler stars as Clyde Shelton, who goes on a personal mission for revenge when one of the men who killed his wife and daughter goes free. The official synopsis reads:
“Clyde Shelton is an honorable family man, until the day his wife and daughter are murdered in a home invasion. He hopes for justice, but a rising prosecutor named Nick Rice cuts a deal with one of the killers in exchange for testimony. Ten years later, that man is found dead.”
Distributed by Overture Films, Law Abiding Citizen was a relative success, even if it didn’t steal the show at the box office. The film grossed over $127 million worldwide during its theatrical run in 2009. When compared with its budget of $50 million, that’s a good success for Overture.
In the years since its release, Law Abiding Citizen has become one of Gerard Butler’s fan favorite action movies. But, when the film was released, it didn’t sit well with critics. The film holds a ghastly 26% on Rotten Tomatoes from a mix of original and contemporary reviews. However, with over 250,000 ratings, Law Abiding Citizen was clearly a hit with viewers, as it boasts a far stronger 75% audience score.
Law Abiding Citizen was released three years after 300, when Gerard Butler was arguably at the height of his popularity within the action genre. He had starred in some action films in the years before, including Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life. But the 300 era also led to hits like RocknRolla, Machine Gun Preacher, and, how could we forget, How to Train Your Dragon (a role which Butler recently reprised in the live-action remake). As for his upcoming projects, Butler is set to return for the third film in the Den of Thieves trilogy, and he has also completed shooting on the sequel to his epic disaster movie, Greenland, titled Greenland: Migration, which will release next year.
October 16, 2009
109 minutes
F. Gary Gray
Gerard Butler, Kurt Wimmer, Lucas Foster, Mark Gill, Alan Siegel
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