A 2024Netflixfilm has rapidly become a global success, despite receiving a 30% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes. Though the streaming service has produced a number of movies that have received awards attention,Netflix just as frequently releasesoriginal films that miss with critics. However, the platform’s set-up makes it easy for movies to reach audiences in search of a casual watch, turning critically-disliked titles into global hits.
Netflix’s model has proven viewers are willing to engage with content regardless of critical opinion, suggestingthat audience appeal plays a larger role in streaming platforms' successthan that of critics. In recent weeks, Netflix originals that earned poor reviews on their way to becoming viewership hits include theLindsay Lohan Christmas romanceOur Little Secret, fellow holiday offeringThe Merry Gentlemen, and the slasher flickTime Cut.
Mary Defies Expectations On The Streaming Charts
Mary Has Hit Top 10 Charts Across The Globe
Mary, the 2024 Netflix film, has become a streaming hit. Directed by D.J. Caruso,the film follows Mary, the mother of Jesus, as she is forced to flee when Herod’s thirst for power instigates a murderous pursuit of her newborn. Released on December 6, the movie’s reviews have been largely negative, earning a 30% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, viewers are definitely tuning in.
Marycame in at the no. 4 spot onNetflix’s Global Movies Top 10 chart for the week of December 2 through December 8, behindOur Little Secret, That Christmas,andThe Grinch. It racked up 11.4 million views and 21.2 million hours viewed for this stretch of time, and came in at no. 1 in two countries: Réunion and the Philippines. Overall,it was on the Top 10 lists of 71 different countries.
Netflix’s Mary Cast & Character Guide
Netflix’s new biblical epic Mary is a retelling of Jesus’s birth from Mary’s perspective as a young woman that hopes to create a coming-of-age story.
Marycomes at a time when audiences are likely more receptive to religious and holiday-themed content, with its December releasealigning with a season that often sees a surge in interest in these types of films. With movies likeMary,it’s clear that audiences are often seeking something beyond the polished critiques of industry experts. Because of the central themes ofMaryand the historical and religious significance of the titular character,it’s likely that audiences are connecting with the film on a level deeperthan the critical viewpoints.
Our Take On Mary And The Changing Streaming Landscape
The unexpected success ofMarymight be significant for Netflix’s strategy going forward. It raises a question of how streaming platforms could continue to prioritize audience engagement over critical reviews when producing future films. In an era where movies can be popular for reasons that don’t necessarily align with critical acclaim, platforms like Netflix may find thattheir best investments lie in tapping into the raw, untapped potential of audiences worldwide.
While the critics have spoken, audiences have voted with their views, proving once again that sometimes it’s the unexpected hits that determine a platform’s success. Whether or notMaryis a one-off or part of a growing trend remains to be seen, butit is clear that the way audiences engage with content is shifting, and Netflix is fully in tune with that evolution.
Mary
Cast
Mary, directed by D.J. Caruso, follows the miraculous conception of Mary’s child, inciting King Herod’s wrath as he attempts to eliminate the newborn, whom he perceives as a threat to his reign. Forced into hiding, Mary endeavours to protect her infant son amidst escalating danger.
