There have already been several tragic celebrity deaths in 2025, including David Lynch and Gene Hackman. Though he was 95 years old, Hackman’s pᴀssing came as a particular shock as he was discovered in conjunction with the death of his much younger wife, Besty Arakawa. His death was announced days before this year’s Academy Awards, where a special speech was given by former co-star and friend, Morgan Freeman. Hackman was a two-time Oscar winner, taking home acting awards for his roles in The French Connection and Unforgiven.

One of the most impressive things about Hackman’s career was his ability to play a wide range of roles. The actor could, at once, play both intense drama, like Harry Caul in The Conversation, and comedy, such as when he played the Blindman in Young Frankenstein. One of his most iconic late-career roles blended drama and comedy, playing dying patriarch Royal Tenenbaum in Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums. Now, one of Hackman’s mid-80s films is doing well on streaming as his legacy is celebrated in the wake of his death.

Hoosiers Is A Streaming Hit 39 Years Later

Hoosiers Is An Underdog Story

Hoosiers has now become a streaming hit. The sports drama tells the underdog story of a small-town Indiana high school basketball team that vies for a chance at the 1950s state championship. In the process, they are led by a pᴀssionate but troubled coach and a player’s alcoholic father. Hackman played Coach Norman Dale in the film, whose cast also included Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper, Sheb Wooley, Chelcie Ross, and Robert Swan. The film was nominated for two Oscars and became nearly an instant classic.

Per FlixPatrol, Hoosiers is now posting up on the streaming charts. The movie is coming in at no. 5 on Prime Video’s top 10 movies in the United States chart today, March 14. The film first appeared at no. 9 in the top 10 on Wednesday, March 12, before rising to no. 5 the next day and maintaining this position.

Our Take On Hoosiers’ Streaming Success

Hackman Was So Beloved

Hoosiers is not the only Hackman film to do well on streaming in the weeks following the actor’s death. His Oscar-winning The French Connection was trending recently, as well as the movies Runaway Jury and Enemy of the State. These successes highlight how beloved Hackman was as an actor, as even his movies, which are in very distinct genres and take on very different tones, have been able to do well for viewers at home following his death.

Source: FlixPatrol