Despite not reaching the anticipated levels at the box office, *The Fall Guy* is gaining significant traction on streaming platforms. This action-comedy, featuring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, is a cinematic adaptation of the 1980s TV series. The storyline follows a stuntman entangled in a murder conspiracy while being recruited for his ex-girlfriend’s directorial debut, in hopes of rekindling their romance. Directed by David Leitch of *Deadpool 2* fame, *The Fall Guy* received generally favorable reviews from critics. However, it fell short financially, earning just over $180 million against a hefty $125 million production cost.
Log in – Create an account
Access All Features Without Limits!
Unlimited Access • All Features • Full Experience!
Password Error
Log in
Forgot your password?
Create an account
*Required: 8 characters, 1 capital letter, 1 number
By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You also consent to receive our newsletters, which you can opt out of at any time.
No Thanks, Continue Reading
Now, *Deadline* reports that *The Fall Guy* has broken a major streaming record on Peacock. Released over the Labor Day weekend, the film emerged as Peacock’s most successful film debut, surpassing the previous record held by Christopher Nolan’s *Oppenheimer*. It also ranked as the second-most-watched film across all U.S. streaming platforms that weekend, according to Nielsen data. The film’s success was notably driven by users who tuned in for the Paris Olympics, making it not only the top film but also the No. 2 title overall watched by this audience, following *Love Island USA*. Moreover, the extended cut of *The Fall Guy* accounted for 92% of its streaming viewership.
Implications of *The Fall Guy*’s Streaming Triumph
Could This Record Pave the Way for a Sequel?
Although the film’s box office performance was unexpectedly underwhelming compared to its reviews, *The Fall Guy*’s financial outcome wasn’t solely due to the movie’s shortcomings. Spring 2024 experienced a general downturn in box office performance following the successful theatrical runs of *Dune: Part Two* and *Kung Fu Panda 4*. Films like *Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire* notably underperformed, while Guy Ritchie’s *The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare* flopped, and both *The First Omen* and *Monkey Man* achieved only moderate success. The chart below illustrates how *The Fall Guy* stacked up against other major Spring 2024 releases at the box office and on Rotten Tomatoes:
The fact that *The Fall Guy* achieved streaming success during the Paris Olympics is an encouraging indicator of its continued viewer engagement. Coupled with an 86% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s evident that many viewers were drawn to the dynamic pairing of Blunt and Gosling in an action setting, or were eager to revisit the film after watching it in theaters. Among those who viewed it for the first time, the 8% who missed the extended cut are likely to watch the longer version, alongside repeat viewers.
I'm Still Hoping For The Fall Guy 2 So Ryan Gosling & Emily Blunt's Bad Franchise Luck Ends
With the film’s streaming triumph, the focus now shifts to the likelihood of a *Fall Guy 2*. Prior to the release of the first film, Gosling revealed that a script for the sequel was already completed—a surprising move given the considerable budget of the original *Fall Guy*. The studio, however, likely didn’t anticipate the box office slump the film encountered, which might have led to premature confidence in a sequel by commissioning Drew Pearce to write the script.
*The Fall Guy* Must Sustain Its Numbers for a Sequel
Streaming Metrics Are Crucial Alongside Box Office Performance for Franchises
While the initial streaming success bodes well for a potential sequel, *The Fall Guy 2* has a challenging path to official approval. To convince Universal of the viability of a sequel, the film’s streaming numbers must remain robust in the coming weeks. A decline in viewership is typical for any streaming title, whether a new release or an established favorite on the platform. However, for a costly production like *The Fall Guy*, its performance during the first month is particularly critical.
Universal will not solely rely on Peacock’s streaming data for *The Fall Guy*. The studio has a specific arrangement with Netflix, where their films stream on Peacock for four months during the pay-TV window before transitioning to the other platform. *The Super Mario Bros. Movie* is a recent example of this strategy, achieving significant success upon its Netflix release, accumulating 4.8 million hours viewed from 3.1 million views.
If *The Fall Guy* replicates similar success on another streaming platform beyond Peacock, it would further bolster the chances of a sequel. Leitch, Gosling, and Blunt evidently enjoyed creating the 2024 action-comedy, and with a script already prepared, the development process could be expedited to production. Universal might also seek a more strategic release window for *The Fall Guy 2* to avoid the original’s box office challenges.
Source: *Deadline*
The Fall Guy
- Action
- Drama
- Thriller
The Fall Guy is an action thriller from Bullet Train and Deadpool 2 director David Leitch. Ryan Gosling stars as a stuntman who is forced to find a missing movie star, investigate a conspiracy, and repair his relationship with the love of his life. The film was written by Drew Pearce and inspired by the 1980s TV series of the same name.
