Henry Cavill’s thriller Night Hunter has recently surpassed a Quentin Tarantino classic on streaming charts, drawing attention despite the film’s underwhelming reception. Originally released in 2018 and featuring Cavill alongside Ben Kingsley and Stanley Tucci, Night Hunter follows a police lieutenant and a vigilante caught in a dangerous investigation. In the United States, the film is available for free on Tubi, while internationally it streams on Paramount+, where it climbed to the number three spot, overtaking Pulp Fiction in popularity.
The Film’s Reception and Limited Theatrical Impact
Despite its rising streaming status, Night Hunter was met with largely negative reviews. Critics gave it a mere 14% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences were lukewarm with a 51% score. The film did not have a wide theatrical release in the U.S. or abroad and earned just about $1 million at the box office. Details about its production budget remain undisclosed, but the poor box office results suggest it failed to recoup costs through traditional channels.
David Raymond wrote and directed Night Hunter, marking his sole directorial effort to date. The film was released the same year Cavill starred alongside Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible – Fallout, which is the highest-rated installment in that franchise. Night Hunter also came several years before Cavill’s final appearance as Superman in the Black Adam post-credits scene and two years before he joined Millie Bobby Brown in Enola Holmes.
Changes in Superman Role Following James Gunn’s DC Leadership
Henry Cavill was replaced as Superman after James Gunn became the new creative lead at DC. Gunn clarified that this decision was not personal but aimed at differentiating the new DC universe from the one established by Zack Snyder. The role of Clark Kent has since been cast with David Corenswet, although Gunn has expressed interest in involving Cavill in future DC projects in different capacities.
The Unlikely Success of Night Hunter Amidst Streaming Giants
Night Hunter’s rise on Paramount+ highlights how films with mixed critical and audience reception can find new life through streaming platforms. With the film currently among the most viewed titles worldwide on Paramount+, its popularity signals shifting viewer interests and the potential for lesser-known movies to achieve success outside traditional theaters. Fans and observers continue to watch the evolving landscape of streaming content that allows movies like Night Hunter to gain unexpected traction.
