Hilary Swank has enjoyed an exceptional career that has seen her star in dozens of movies and shows, and even her less-than-stellar productions are now receiving love. The actor first began her career in 1991 and quickly earned roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) as Kimberly Hannah, The Next Karate Kid (1994) as Julie Pierce, and Boys Don’t Cry (1999) as Brandon Teena. More recently, she starred alongside Reacher‘s Alan Ritchson as Sharon Stevens in Ordinary Angels (2024) and Marissa Bennings in The Good Mother (2023).
She did not just restrain herself to theatrical roles, as she starred on the small screen in Camp Wilder, Beverly Hills, 90210, and, most recently, the critically acclaimed show Yellowjackets. The two-time Oscar winner has left quite an impression on the industry and has enjoyed substantial success along the way. While she was most prominent in the ’90s, Yellowjackets is helping to bring her back to the spotlight. In doing so, it may also have rejuvenated one of Swank’s biggest theatrical disappointments.
The Core Is Surging On Netflix’s Charts
Its Success Is Global
In 2003, Swank starred in The Core, a star-studded disaster movie about preventing the destruction of the Earth’s core with the help of nuclear explosives. Swank led as Major Beck Childs, alongside Aaron Eckhart’s Dr. Keyes and Stanley Tucci’s Dr. Zimsky. The film, which had a budget of $85 million ($149 million today), currently sits at a 39% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes and also earned a 34% Popcornmeter score. It became a critical disappointment and a box office disaster, earning just $74 million ($130 million today).
Decades after it first debuted, however, The Core is experiencing a resurgence on Netflix. Among English-language movies, it earned the #6 spot globally this week with 4.5 million views. This marks its first week in Netflix’s top 10 and the first hint of potential success since it disappointed critics in 2002. The movie earned top 10 placements in 58 different countries, seeing success all across Latin America, Eastern Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. It did not find success domestically, as it is not currently available in the United States.
Our Take On The Core’s Netflix Success
The Core Recently Debuted On Netflix
The Core‘s sudden success is an excellent sign for Swank, but it is not coming entirely from nothing. After all, the movie just arrived on Netflix this week, so users are likely to find it as it appears in the “New on Netflix” recommendation section. It remains to be seen if the film will appear in the top 10 list again next week or if it was simply the new arrival driving interest. Either way, Swank and the rest of the cast and crew must be pleased to see their 2003 disappointment becoming a popular movie in 2025.
Source: Netflix
