John Cena’s $10 million box office bomb, Freelance, is now a sleeper hit on Netflix. The action comedy movie, directed by Taken‘s Pierre Morel, follows lawyer Mason Petтιтs (Cena) as he is launched back into his former U.S. Special Forces operative role to protect journalist Claire Wellington (Alison Brie) while she interviews a South American dictator.

Released in 2023, Freelance was made on a budget of $40 million, but failed to break even, earning only $10.2 million at the box office worldwide. This disastrous box office isn’t the only reason the film is considered a flop, as Freelance also debuted with a shockingly low 0% Rotten Tomatoes score, which has since risen to just 10%.

Now, according to Netflix, John Cena’s Freelance movie is seeing a resurgence on the streaming platform, ranking as a trending тιтle in the United States. Freelance is currently sitting at No. 7 in the Top 10 Movies in the U.S. today, marking a surprising comeback for the box office bomb.

What Streaming Success Means For Freelance

The transformation of Freelance into a Netflix sleeper hit highlights a growing trend that showcases the power of streamers to resurrect films that struggled theatrically. Netflix has consistently demonstrated its ability to better perceptions of action movies with low Rotten Tomatoes scores, and Freelance is just another example of that, achieving the exposure it failed to in theaters.

Furthermore, despite critics panning the film, Freelance fared better with audiences, earning a steady 76% Popcornmeter. As a result, there is clearly a stark difference between audience and critical opinion, leading many to wonder if critics got it wrong with the “Rotten” rating of John Cena’s 2023 movie, especially given its recent streaming success.

Our Take On John Cena’s Freelance

Freelance may have flopped in theaters, but its streaming resurgence proves that sometimes familiarity and sheer entertainment value are all a film needs to be a hit with viewers. Cena has featured in various action comedy roles in recent years, steadily proving himself as a fantastic wrestler turned actor, especially with hits like James Gunn’s Peacemaker TV series spinoff.

While Freelance is certainly not the best of John Cena’s movies, it has its own charm, with its silly action being entertaining enough for casual viewers. Furthermore, it’s an interesting notion that we might see more movies like Freelance transforming from flops into cult hits via streaming sites like Netflix, proving success isn’t always defined by opening weekend.