An underrated crime comedy is getting a new wave of recognition on streaming nine years after it struggled at the box office. It can be hard to predict which older movies will suddenly gain traction on streaming platforms. Of course, people will always rewatch popular classics, but other streaming hits defy logic, since they weren’t particularly successful when they were in theaters. The best crime comedies can be huge crowdpleasers, however, since they have a broader appeal than many other comedy movies, especially if there’s a splash of action.

A lot has been said about the decline of studio comedies in the 21st century, especially mid-budget comedies that fared so well in the 1980s and 1990s. There are still some great comedies being produced, but they aren’t quite the same as they used to be. Broad, laugh-out-loud comedies are getting hard to come by, as many of the funniest movies in recent years have been genre mash-ups. Still, there are some exceptions, and it’s worth paying attention to the kinds of comedies that suddenly get big on streaming platforms, because these could indicate what audiences are missing.

Masterminds Is A Surprise Hit On Paramount+

Zach Galifianakis’ 2016 Heist Comedy Has Found A New Surge Of Popularity

The 2016 crime comedy Masterminds has become an unexpected hit on Paramount +, sitting in the third spot in the streaming platform’s weekly top 10. (via FlixPatrol) This comes as a surprise considering that it has never been particularly popular, pulling in just $29.7 million at the box office on a budget of $25 million. It also sits at just 34% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an audience score of 35%. Still, although it may not be to everyone’s tastes, Masterminds has some great moments, thanks in part to the talents of a cast that includes Zach Galifianakis, Kirsten Wiig, Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis.

Masterminds is based on a true story, which is a rare novelty for a heist movie. The ironic тιтle comes from the fact that the perpetrators of the 1997 Loomis Fargo robbery made several embarrᴀssing mistakes both during and after the heist which led to their arrest. Since it’s a comedy, Masterminds doesn’t mind fudging the details here and there, and it’s often more interested in giving its hilarious cast room to do what they do best. While some gags miss the mark, there’s still a lot to love, especially Sudeikis’ folksy ᴀssᴀssin character. Perhaps the vicious reviews were a little harsh.

Our Take On Masterminds’ Streaming Success

Masterminds’ Newfound Popularity Shows That There Aren’t Enough Fun New Comedies

This latent triumph for Masterminds proves that there’s still an audience for these types of fun-loving comedies that showcase great ensemble casts. It’s worth mentioning that the Paramount+ top 10 is dominated by comedies, with Mean Girls, She’s the Man, The Nice Guys, Norbit and more joining Masterminds. Hopefully, consistent statistics like this will be able to convince the decision-makers in Hollywood to invest more in original comedy movies. For the time being, watching Masterminds and similar movies on streaming will have to do.

Source: FlixPatrol