Summary
-
The Long Game
quickly dethroned
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
on the Netflix movie chart, proving its sleeper hit status. - Dennis Quaid and Jay Hernandez shine in this underdog story of golf and racial tension, resonating with audiences.
- Despite mixed reviews,
The Long Game
‘s success is attributed to strong word of mouth and high audience scores.
Eddie Murphy’s run at the top of the U.S. Netflix movie chart with his Beverly Hills Cop:Axel F return has been brought to an unexpected end by the highly praised golfing drama, The Long Game. Having dropped on the platform at the end of last week, the movie took only a couple of days to find its way to the top of the domestic chart.
The Long Game stars Dennis Quaid, Jay Hernandez and Cheech Marin as just part of its ensemble cast, and is based on the novel Mustang Miracle by Humberto G. Garcia. The film tells the story of JB Peña, a school superintendent who dreams of joining the all-white Del Rio Country Club. However, when he is rejected for the color of his skin, JB embarks on a journey that will change history. While the movie may not be a Hollywood blockbuster, it is exactly the kind of stealthy streaming hit that fans have come to expect from Netflix, and the film has clearly struck a chord to very quickly ascend the chart.
The Long Game (2024)
In 1956, JB Peña and his wife moved to the small town of Del Rio, TX, partly for a job as a school superintendent, but mostly to fulfill JB’s dream of joining the prestigious, all-white Del Rio Country Club. So when JB is rejected on the basis of his skin color, he is devastated. But his world soon collides with a group of young latino golf caddies who work at the country club, and JB is inspired by the handmade course the boys built in the country to teach themselves golf. With little experience and even fewer resources, JB convinces the boys to start their own high school golf team, starting them all on a journey where they learn that it takes more than just golf skills to make history.
The Long Game’s success on Netflix is redemption for the limited theatrical release of the movie back in April, and is more than justified by the film’s hugely impressive 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The near-perfect score is enough to be Dennis Quaid’s fourth-highest audience score of his long career, and is the best for lead star Jay Hernandez. Like many movies arriving on Netflix, strong word of mouth via social media has played a role in the film’s success, which is clear from the huge scalp it has claimed by taking the top spot.
The Long Game is produced by Javier Chapa, Ben Howard, Dennis Quaid, Marla Quintana and Laura Quaid; executive produced by Jay Hernandez, Phillip Braun, Christian Sosa, Simon Wise, Colleen Barshop, Vincent Cordero, Sherresee Clarke Soares of HarbourView Equity Partners and Mexican boxing champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’s Dominance of Netflix is Coming to an End
Although there have been mixed reviews for Eddie Murphy’s belated return to the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, the sequel’s week-long dominance of the chart, in both domestic and global terms, has delivered spectacularly in terms of viewer numbers. While there has been talk of a possible fifth outing for Axel Foley being on the cards, Netflix has yet to make a decision on that front, but if viewership is the main concern, then things are generally looking good for Murphy and his co-stars.
At the same time as the movie’s U.S. chart position fell, so did its global chart position. However, it is a different movie that has ended Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’s run at the top of that list, in the form of Italian-language thriller Vanished into the Night. Another movie that has made a quiet ascent up the Netflix chart, the film has not received many positive reviews – currently on a 24% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes – but has been a constant presence near the top of the chart since its release.
Related
Eddie Murphy Had to Be Talked Into Bringing Back This Item for Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Eddie Murphy had no problem bringing back his trademark humor, but says he had to be talked into bringing back one item in particular.
The ending of Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’s run at the top of the chart has once again proven just how the power of Hollywood means very little when it comes to the type of films and TV shows that can draw in audiences on streaming platforms. Recent No.1 movies like Under Paris and now Vanished into the Night, which arrive without much fanfare and don’t generate the most positive reviews, can easily hold their own against $100 million big-star vehicles from popular franchises, bringing into question the huge budgets of some Netflix exclusive movies and their real worth in such volatile times.