Naomi Watts’ adventure film has just become a top 10 Netflix hit. Impossible to nail down to just one genre, Watts has been a staple of the big and small screen since the 1990s. She reached a new level of stardom after her mesmerizing performance in David Lynch’s dreamlike Mulholland Dr. (1999), before making a splash in horror in 2002 with The Ring. It was in 2005, however, with the release of Peter Jackson’s King Kong that she was solidified as a powerhouse performer in Hollywood.

Since her role as Ann Darrow in Jackson’s monster movie remake, she would go on to appear in films like Eastern Promises (2007), Funny Games (2007), The International (2009), and The Impossible (2012), with the latter earning her a second Oscar nomination after 21 Grams (2003). Other notable тιтles include Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014), Insurgent (2015), and 2017’s Twin Peaks revival. In 2022, Watts took on an adventure film, starring in an intense story of survival against all odds that is now experiencing a second life on streaming.

Infinite Storm Has Become A Global Hit On Netflix

Naomi Watts’ Survival Movie Ascends To Top 10 Status

Infinite Storm

is now surging on Netflix’s global top 10 list. Directed by Malgorzata Szumowska and Michal Englert with a script from Joshua Rollins, the survival thriller is based on the real-life experiences of Pam Bales as told in “High Places: Footprints in the Snow Lead to an Emotional Rescue,” an article by Ty Gagne. Watts stars as Pam, a climber caught in a dangerous blizzard who encounters a stranded stranger and must then get them both to safety before nightfall. The film failed to make a mark at the box office, grossing only $1.6 million domestically upon its release.

Now, however, new data from Netflix reveals that Infinite Storm ranks as the ninth most popular тιтle on the streamer for the week of March 17 – 23. It amᴀssed an impressive 7.9 million hours viewed with 4.8 million views in total, coming ahead of M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap, which amᴀssed 4.5 million views. The survival thriller was the most-watched тιтle in five countries, including Argentina, Costa Rica, Honduras, Uruguay, and Venezuela, and it placed in the top 10 in 20. Check out the full global top 10 list below:

What This Means For Infinite Storm

The Film’s Mixed Reception Explained

The success of Infinite Storm is some good news for a film that can hardly be considered a success. Reviews for Watt’s survival thriller were decidedly mixed from critics due to the film’s slower pace and some frustrating story choices, earning it a lackluster 56% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the Popcornmeter score about the same at 55%. Rachel Labonte’s Infinite Storm review for ScreenRant was a more positive outlier at seven out of 10, and she argues that Watts’ strong performance elevates the material:

Watts gives a game performance as a devastated mother who still chooses to see good in the world around her, and the stark, harsh beauty of what nature is capable of will impress many viewers. Though it is less concerned with the adrenaline that comes with a rescue mission, Infinite Storm would be worth a watch from those who enjoy incredible true stories, or from anyone who just might be a fan of Watts.

In the grander scheme of Watts’ career, Infinite Storm seems unlikely to leave too great a mark. Its newfound success does suggest, however, that Watts still remains an audience draw under the right circumstances. Though it’s clear that viewers are now checking the movie out on Netflix following a quiet theatrical release, it probably won’t be joining the ranks of Mulholland Dr., The Impossible, 21 Grams, and King Kong as one of the most important works of Watts’ impressive career.

Source: Netflix