Gerard Butler’s film Kandahar experienced a weak theatrical run upon its 2023 release but has since gained significant popularity on the streaming platform Tubi, establishing a notable Gerard Butler Kandahar streaming success. The espionage thriller, starring Butler and Tom Rhys Harries, climbed to become one of the top ten most-streamed titles in the United States as of mid-2025.
Box Office Disappointment Despite Star-Studded Cast
Kandahar, a conspiracy thriller about a CIA operative stranded in hostile territory with a translator, failed at the box office despite its $30-70 million budget. Worldwide, it only grossed $7.7 million, with $4.8 million from the domestic market and $2.9 million internationally. This performance ranks among Butler’s lowest for the decade, though not his least successful; Joe Carnahan’s Copshop earned less globally. Critics largely disfavored Kandahar, reflected by the mixed reception upon release and a 45% score on Rotten Tomatoes, which contrasts sharply with fan ratings that reached 82% on the same platform.
Critical Response Painted the Film as Lackluster
Early negative critiques contributed to Kandahar’s poor theater turnout. A particularly harsh review came from Collider’s Chase Hutchinson, who classified the movie as a “tepid action thriller” and gave it a D+ rating. Hutchinson noted,
“More than anything, the greatest problem is how boring it all is,”
“None of the action scenes have any passion to them and, even worse, they can feel downright contrived. That it then pretends to have something more to say strains credulity. A second watch further cemented this as the way it all plays out carries with it no driving emotional force or even the slightest of action thrills.” — Chase Hutchinson, Collider
These critiques underscored a lack of emotional engagement and unconvincing action sequences, which likely discouraged theater audiences from supporting the film upon its release.
Unexpected Triumph on Tubi Streaming Service
Despite the initial failure in cinemas, Kandahar found new life on the streaming platform Tubi by mid-2025. Its rising popularity on this free streaming service highlights the unpredictable nature of film reception in the digital age, where movies can reach wider audiences and achieve delayed success beyond box office metrics. Butler’s presence, alongside Tom Rhys Harries and Navid Negahban, helps bolster viewer interest, contributing to its streaming resurgence.
Impact and Future Prospects for Gerard Butler’s Work
Kandahar’s streaming achievements illustrate how films with poor theatrical outcomes can still engage audiences over time through alternative viewing formats. The divergence between critic and fan responses also suggests that action thrillers with familiar leads like Butler can thrive in the streaming market despite mixed reviews. This case may influence future distribution strategies, encouraging studios to consider streaming platforms more heavily when evaluating a film’s total success.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What religion is Gerard Butler?
A. His family practices Catholicism and has Irish roots. When he was just six months old, they relocated to Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Q. What is Gerard Butler’s accent?
A. Many people might not realize that Gerard Butler is from Scotland.
Q. What is Gerard Butler’s religion?
A. Although Butler grew up in the Catholic faith, he has explored different cultures and religions. At the end of 2019 and the start of 2020, he traveled to the Hindu sacred cities of Varanasi and Rishikesh in India. There, he took part in spiritual practices like meditation and private rituals called pujas.
Q. Is Gerard Butler deaf?
A. Gerard Butler, a Scottish actor, experiences tinnitus and partial hearing loss because of surgery he had as a child. Nonetheless, he has appeared in many hit movies and remains successful in Hollywood.
