Likely prompted by advancements in the tool itself, AI-focused movies have become increasingly popular in recent years. These range from horror-dark comedies such as M3GAN or Companion, and more serious dramas like Kogonada’s After Yang. Apple TV+ recently released the trailer for Murderbot, a TV series that focuses on the trials of an AI robot created in service to humans. The fascination with AI projects itself onto film and TV through the exploration of themes of free will and/or the dangers of the technology.
Scarlett Johansson has ᴀssumed an interesting place in the AI-verse. The actor has been in films related to the topic, but before artificial intelligence was as oft-discussed as it is now. She played the voice of the AI-supported operating system that Joaquin Phoenix falls in love with in the 2013 movie Her, which prompted discussion on AI-related issues in the dawn of our Siri-obsessed age. Now, another one of Johansson’s AI-based movies is trending on streaming.
Lucy Is Doing Well On Streaming
The Movie Has A Unique Take On AI
Lucy has made its way onto the streaming charts. Described as an artificial intelligence action thriller, the Luc Besson-directed movie offers a different take on AI. Rather than a computer-driven system, the movie sees its eponymous character become biochemically altered to enhance her intelligence. In addition to Johansson, the film features a leading cast including Morgan Freeman, Amr Waked, and Choi Min-sik. Lucy got mixed reviews at the time of its release, getting a 67% Tomatatometer and just a 47% Popcornmeter from audiences.
According to FlixPatrol, Lucy is now trending on Netflix. The film made it to the no. 4 slot on the platform’s top 10 films in the United States today, April 10. While it lost out to One of Them Days, The Life List, and The Croods, Lucy ranked higher than the films The Hating Game, Geostorm, Despicable Me 4, The Dark Knight, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, and The Dad Quest.
What This Means For Lucy
Johansson Is About To Have A Big Year
Lucy‘s emerging success on Netflix could be due to several factors. For one, Johansson’s name may be circulating in the news more often, as she is in the upcoming film Jurᴀssic World: Rebirth as well as Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, the latter of which just released a trailer earlier this week. The film’s delayed streaming success could also be indicative, however, of viewers’ increasing interest in AI as a topic. As a 2014 release, Lucy was discussing intelligence enhancements before this recent AI wave, making it an interesting entry into the AI thriller subgenre.
Source: FlixPatrol
