The Peanut Butter Falcon enters Netflix’s Top 10 chart in the United States five years after its initial release. Written and directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz in their debut, The Peanut Butter Falcon follows the semi-true story of Zak, a young man with Down syndrome who runs away from a residential nursing home and bonds with a wayward fisherman while a social worker tries to track them down. Other than Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson, the cast includes Zack Gottsagen, John Hawkes, Bruce Dern, Jon Bernthal, and Thomas Haden Church.

Now, five years after becoming a sleeper hit at the box office, the critically acclaimed film has entered Netflix’s Top 10 chart in the United States. For the week of May 6-12, The Peanut Butter Falcon was the 10th most-watched film on Netflix in the United States. This marks the movie’s first week in the Top 10, placing below The Great Wall at #9 and The Equalizer at #8, both in their second consecutive weeks.

The Peanut Butter Falcon’s Success Explained

By becoming a streaming hit on Netflix five years after its initial release, The Peanut Butter Falcon has been a success on every level. In March 2019, the film premiered to much acclaim at South by Southwest, where The Peanut Butter Falcon reviews praised the film for its heartwarming journey, exceptional acting, and modern retelling of Huckleberry Finn. The film has a Certified Fresh 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where its Critics Consensus calls The Peanut Butter Falcon a “feelgood adventure brought to life by outstanding performances” that “finds rich modern resonance in classic American fiction.”

In light of the rave reviews at SXSW, Roadside Attractions acquired the rights to the film. Despite only receiving a limited theatrical release, The Peanut Butter Falcon became a sleeper hit that exceeded expectations, grossing over $23 million at the box office on a small $6 million budget, making it the highest-grossing independent movie of 2019. Audiences also enjoyed the movie just as much as critics, as indicated by its 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes from 2500+ verified ratings.

Now a hit on Netflix, The Peanut Butter Falcon has become a success on every level, including critics, audiences, box office, and streaming. As a feel-good indie film about a bond between two men, The Peanut Butter Falcon is also the kind of film that plays just as well at home on streaming as in a crowded theater. The film’s journey from a sleeper hit at the box office to the Netflix Top 10 five years later showcases its enduring appeal, and suggests it could become a modern classic in the indie scene.

Source: Netflix