The historical dramaThe Boys in the Boatfailed to find an audience when it opened in theaters during the 2023 Christmas season, but streaming has given the film a much-deserved second life. According to the websiteReelgood, theGeorge Clooney-directed film is now among the top ten most viewed films on major streamers, standing alongside hit films likeGodzilla Minus OneandDune Part Two.
The Boys in the Boat
Through the first week of June,The Boys in the Boat, which is available on Prime Video, ranked as the sixth most-watched film on all streaming. It ranked ahead of recent hit films, includingThe Iron Claw, while the Oscar-winningGodzilla Minus Onewas the most-watched film during the period. Prime Video has highlighted the film on their streaming app as an exclusive offering, boosting the movie’s visibility among potential viewers.
Based on the best-selling novel by Daniel James Brown,The Boys in the Boatrecounts the real-life exploitsof the University of Washington men’s rowing team, who overcame incredible odds at the height of the Depression to compete in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, against Adolf Hitler’s German team.
In an exclusive interview withMovieweb, Clooney said he felt it was a “good time” to do an uplifting film that celebrated the triumph of the human spirit. “We’ve all just been through such hell from the pandemic,” he said, stating the film reinforced the idea that “We actually like each other [and] should remind ourselves that we’re better off together.”
The Boys in the Boat Review: George Clooney’s Uplifting Sports Drama
Coach Al Ulbrickson (Joel Edgerton) and Joe Rantz (Callum Turner) lead the University of Washington’s rowing team to Olympics gold in 1936.
Audiences and Critics Weigh In onThe Boys in the Boat
Amazon/MGM released the film on Christmas Day, hoping it would be their entry in the Oscars race. However, film critics were not kind to the film, and it managed only a57% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Dulcie Pearce ofThe Sun (UK)called the film a “mediocre melodrama that is so schmaltzy and sickly sweet, it left me feeling seasick.”
Despite the mediocre reviews,moviegoers loved the film, giving it a 97% rating on the same site. Most of the positive reviews focused on the strong characters and the underdog story that plays like a throwback to classic Hollywood films.
Even good word-of-mouth and an A-list director wasn’t enough to make the film a hit at the box office, however, as it earned only $55 million worldwide against a $40 million reported budget. With its release to streaming, however, the film is finally getting the attention it deserves.
To learn Boys in the Boat, check out this Movieweb interview with Daniel James Brown, author of the book the film is based on.
