Thescreescore – Liam Neeson, the undisputed king of action thrillers, has once again conquered the streaming charts. His 2024 release, Absolution, a film that garnered a less-than-stellar 54% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, has surprisingly ascended to the top spot on Hulu’s U.S. movie chart for June 18, 2025 (via Flixpatrol). This unexpected triumph begs the question: what makes this critically middling action flick such a streaming sensation?
Neeson portrays "Thug," a grizzled mob enforcer grappling with CTE, attempting to mend his fractured family ties before time runs out. While the theatrical release of Absolution last November was a relative box office flop, grossing a mere $1.4 million domestically in its opening weekend, its streaming performance tells a different story. The film’s plot, admittedly reminiscent of Neeson’s 2022 effort, Memory (another tale of an aging killer facing memory loss), hasn’t deterred viewers from embracing its gritty narrative.
The film’s success on Hulu highlights a fascinating trend in the streaming landscape. While the critical consensus and box office returns may not always align, the ease of access and on-demand nature of streaming platforms offer a second life to films that might have otherwise been forgotten. Neeson’s prolific output, often criticized for its sameness, finds a surprisingly receptive audience on platforms like Hulu, where viewers can easily sample and choose their viewing experience without the commitment of a theatrical release.
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This isn’t the first time a Neeson film has found unexpected success on streaming services. The Land of Saints and Sinners, initially overlooked in theaters, similarly found a large audience on Prime Video earlier this year. Similarly, the largely forgotten Wrath of the Titans recently climbed the Netflix charts. This suggests that the perceived flaws in Neeson’s recent output, often cited as repetitive and formulaic, are less of a deterrent on streaming services, where the low barrier to entry allows for casual viewing and discovery. Absolution‘s top spot on Hulu proves that for action stars like Neeson, streaming offers a powerful platform for longevity and unexpected success, even if the critics aren’t entirely convinced. The film’s rise is a testament to the unpredictable nature of streaming success and the enduring appeal of a familiar action hero. Source: Flixpatrol
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