This film by M. Night Shyamalan is at the top of the streaming charts despite a box office flop

M. Night Shyamalan is one of the most recognizable names in the Hollywood scene, thanks to his commitment to plot twists that confuse audiences and get people excited about his films. However, for everyone The sixth sensethere is one Oldas Shyamalan’s gimmick is usually well received by audiences and critics. That’s why the filmmaker has released both critically acclaimed classics and massive flops over the course of three decades. But Shyamalan’s latest film, Catchhas found new life in streaming as a strange middle-of-the-road entry in his filmography. Despite the lukewarm reviews and modest box office results Catch keeps popping up on Max’s most viewed list.

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Catch follows Josh Hartnett as Cooper, a devoted father who takes his teenage daughter (Ariel Donoghue) to a pop concert only to discover he has been caught up in an elaborate police operation. The officers use the incident as a trap to lure Cooper, who is secretly a serial killer. While the film releases this massive revelation in just a few minutes, Catch still features Shyamalan’s signature blend of suspense and psychological manipulation, including a surprise ending.

As with most of Shyamalan’s projects Catch was a self-financed original film that cost the filmmaker $30 million. With a worldwide gross of $82 million, the film made a profit but fell short of the director’s historical standards. For comparison: The sixth sense dominated the box office with $670 million worldwide and Sign impresses with $400 million. Just now Wide awake ($282,000) and Knock on the hut ($54 million) earned less, placing Catch occupies a unique position in his oeuvre.

(See also: 7 Movies to Watch Afterwards Catch)

The summer release strategy proved particularly challenging for the film as it competed with both established franchises and surprise hits. At the time Catch came to the cinemas, Deadpool and Wolverine had already established itself as the season’s dominant force, amassing $1.3 billion worldwide and emptying every moviegoer’s wallet. Especially the indie horror sensation Long legs proved to be direct competition, grossing an impressive $100 million worldwide on a budget of just $10 million. This crowded marketplace created an environment in which Catch struggled to gain a foothold in the theater. Fortunately, CatchShyamalan’s streaming success is a testament to how much fun Shyamalan’s thriller really is.

Catch Deserves its streaming success

Although Catch Although Shyamalan received a slew of negative reviews, critics consistently praised Shyamalan’s technical mastery, particularly his innovative use of the concert setting to create excitement and suspense. As they should! The director’s signature visual style, characterized by carefully composed wide shots and emotionally charged close-ups, shines in a story that balances the chaotic energy of a crowd and the dark machinations of a cornered serial killer. Additionally, Shyamalan went all out when creating the fictional pop star Lady Raven, played by Saleka Shyamalan. Lady Raven’s musical numbers are so impressive that they become a wonder in the middle of a film full of inspired creative choices.

The story takes some strange twists and turns CatchThe ending is chaotic. Furthermore, while the film is by no means Shyamalan’s worst film, his now formulaic approach to suspense no longer has the same impact as it once did. Despite it, Catch is a funny film. Sometimes that’s all we need.

Catch‘S The release on Max was also perfectly timed. The film hit the streaming platform in October, also known as “Spooky Season.” There is something magical about October that makes every film lover want to watch the latest exciting or scary movie Catch became available when people needed exactly the type of content it offers. There is also a fascinating performance from Hartnett and a short running time of 105 minutes Catch becomes the perfect, straightforward thriller for the Halloween season.

The film’s digital success goes beyond simple viewership. Catch The fact that it continues to appear in the “Max” top 10 list months after its premiere shows that new viewers continue to discover the film through word of mouth. This is a win for Shyamalan and the audience Catch will want to tune in to whatever he cooks next. With the filmmaker open to a sequel, the thriller’s newfound fame could prompt Shyamalan to bankroll another pop-infused serial killer story. Although the director traditionally prioritizes theatrical releases, the film’s viral reach shows that multiple distribution channels make sense to reach audiences.

Catch is currently available to stream on Max and maintains its place among the platform’s most-watched titles.