Cillian Murphy's forgotten 'Anna' tops Netflix charts years after release
Cillian Murphy's 2019 action thriller, Anna, is experiencing a resurgence on Netflix despite its initial underwhelming box office performance. The film, conceived and helmed by Luc Besson as writer, director, and producer, centers around a deadly government assassin. Featuring an ensemble cast, Anna only garnered $31.6M worldwide against its $30M production budget upon release. Why is this film climbing the global charts now after five years? Let's decode.
'Anna' found a new audience on Netflix
Five years after its drop, Anna has found a new audience base on Netflix. For the week of April 15 to April 21, the film secured a spot in the Netflix Top 10 Global Movie list, reportedly. It ranked as the fourth most-viewed film on the platform with a total of 11.7M hours watched and garnered 5.9M views. Despite trailing behind Rebel Moon-Part 2, Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp, and What Jennifer Did, it outperformed several other films.
Murphy's recent achievements could have contributed to the renewed interest
Murphy's recent achievements in other projects could have contributed to the renewed interest in Anna. Post the film's debut, he has received critical acclaim for his role in the TV series Peaky Blinders. He also shared screen space in the successful horror sequel A Quiet Place: Part II and most prominently won an Academy Award for his leading role in Christopher Nolan's biographical thriller Oppenheimer in March.
'Anna' was initially criticized for being unoriginal
Despite being an action-thriller—a genre typically popular among audiences—Anna initially failed to impress. Critics deemed it unoriginal, drawing comparisons with Besson's 1990 thriller La Femme Nikita and other spy thrillers like Red Sparrow. However, the streaming platform has given the film a second chance to reach new viewers. The intricate plot of Anna, filled with unexpected twists, is now gaining recognition from a broader giant streaming platform's audience.
What is the plot of 'Anna'?
The film featured Russian actor Sasha Luss alongside seasoned stars Helen Mirren, Luke Evans, and Murphy himself. IMDb described the plot of Anna: "Beneath a Russian woman's striking beauty lies a hidden secret that will unleash her indelible strength and skill, propelling her journey to becoming one of the most feared assassins on the planet." The conclusion is packed with unexpected developments as Anna confronts challenges from both the CIA and the KGB in her quest for liberation.
