A Forgotten Ben Affleck Sci-Fi Film Is Now Trending On Netflix 22 Years After Launch

Ben Affleck made a sci-fi film in 2003 that has since been forgotten, however 22 years later, the rarely-seen movie is a streaming hit on Netflix. Whilst his two-decades-old science fiction effort finds a brand new viewers on the world’s greatest streamer, the Oscar-winning actor, producer and author is having fun with the success of his newest launch, The Accountant 2, which grossed $101 million worldwide in its theatrical run, and is bound to be much more of successful on streaming.

It’s no shock in any respect to see Affleck headlining a thriller like The Accountant 2, after his efforts with movies like the primary Accountant, The City, Argo, Triple Frontier and others. Science fiction movies just like the one he made again in 2003 are much less regularly present in his filmography, and if sci-fi leaning comedian guide films like Justice League are tossed out, the style is much more poorly represented there.

Affleck’s 2003 Science Fiction Film Paycheck Is Trending On Netflix

The early Affleck starring car was a modest hit

2003 was a busy 12 months for Affleck with three releases in theaters, amongst them the sci-fi film Paycheck, which is now trending on Netflix. Directed by the legendary John Woo, the near-future thriller considerations a reverse engineer (Affleck) doing secretive work for tech corporations, whose thoughts is erased after each job. Following a very delicate gig involving authorities tech, Affleck awakes from his thoughts erasure to seek out himself being pursued, with no concept why.

22 years after it grossed $117 million in theaters, Affleck’s pursuit thriller Paycheck is being rediscovered on streaming, and is presently trending on Netflix, touchdown at #5 on the service’s self-reported world high ten (through Flixpatrol).

Our Take On Affleck’s Paycheck Resurfacing After 22 Years

It’s a very good look ahead to followers of paranoid sci-fi thrillers

Affleck’s 2003 included two of his most notable duds, Gigli and Daredevil, making the modestly profitable Paycheck the perfect of his three releases that 12 months. The Woo-directed thriller is extra worthy of reassessment than the all-time bomb Gigli or the superhero misfire Daredevil, and it is refreshing to see new viewers discovering the film on Netflix, and giving it a second likelihood.

It’s true that Affleck has leaned towards drama and thriller roles, doing only a few science fiction or horror excursions over the course of his profession. Maybe Paycheck soured Affleck on doing extra futuristic films, given its modest field workplace success, and really dismal essential reception (its Rotten Tomatoes ranking stands at 27%). Or maybe the star merely thought he’d discovered his area of interest in thrillers and dramas, and noticed no must revisit sci-fi.

Paycheck maybe ought to have been an even bigger success, given its foundation in a brief story by Philip Okay. Dick, an creator whose works have been tailored into quite a lot of traditional movies, and some huge hits like the unique Complete Recall and Spielberg’s Minority Report. Critics level to Woo’s path as one of many movie’s huge issues, declaring that his predilection for over-the-top motion simply doesn’t match the fabric.

Woo left Hollywood proper after Paycheck, and didn’t return till 2023. Affleck held on within the Hollywood recreation, however steered his profession away from high-concept sci-fi films. Paycheck could have been an unlucky expertise for its star and director again in 2003, however streaming subscribers in 2025 are rediscovering its virtues.

Supply: Flixpatrol