Benedict Cumberbatch’s $540 million hit Dr. Seuss remake climbs the streaming charts some six years after its release. Cumberbatch rose to fame playing the titular role inBBC’sSherlock, an updated reimagining of the Sherlock Holmes story, with Martin Freeman playing Dr. Watson. Following the success of the show, Cumberbatch became known to a global audience for his role of Dr. Stephen Strange in the MCU, getting a solo movie and then playing a prominent role inAvengers: Infinity War, andAvengers: Endgame, which became the highest-grossing movie of all-time on its initial release.
Critical acclaim was soon to follow with Academy Award nominations for Best Actor, forThe Imitation Game, andThe Power of the Dog. He has also enjoyed roles in period dramas such asAtonement,Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and12 Years A Slave, as well as a range of work on stage. No stranger to blockbuster movies,Cumberbatch has also played villainous roles in theHobbitfranchise, as well asKhan inStar Trek: Into Darkness. Another of Cumberbatch’s blockbuster roles, where he portrays a villain of sorts, has been performing admirably on streaming recently.
The Grinch Has Topped The Netflix Charts
Viewers Are Responding Well To The Reboot Of The Festive Classic
Cumberbatch’s remake ofThe Grinchwas released in 2018, and became a box office hit, grossing more than $540 million against a production budget of $75 million. The film marked thethird screen adaptation of the Dr. Seuss bookHow the Grinch Stole Christmas!, after the 1966 TV special, and the2000 Jim Carrey live-action movie.The Grinchwas directed by Scott Mosier and Yarrow Cheney, and co-stars Rashida Jones, Kenan Thompson, and Angela Lansbury, and became the highest-grossing Christmas film of all-time, and the movie is enjoying a resurgence in popularity following its streaming debut.
The Grinchhas no doubt benefited from the fact that its streaming availability has come at the end of November, with the festive season imminent, and this should give it a spike in viewers.
The Grinchsits at the No. 1 spot on the Peacock Top Movies Today chart, outperforming the other hit movies in the top five,Twistersat No. 2,Despicable Me 4at No. 3,The Super Mario Bros. Movieat No. 4, and DreamWorks’Homeat No. 5. How long the Cumberbatch-led reboot might remain at the summit of Peacock’s charts is unclear at this stage, but with the festive season fast approaching, the film could be in for a prolonged stint on streaming.
What This Means For The Grinch’s Long-Term Success
A Spike In Festive Viewership Is Pretty Certain
The Grinchhas no doubt benefited from the fact that its streaming release has come at the end of November, with the festive season imminent, and this should give it a spike in viewers. The film’s success on Peacock could lead to a renewed interest in the earlier movie, and might even set the stage forJim Carrey’sThe Grinch 2to finally happenafter many years of development. I suspectThe Grinchwill stay inside the Peacock top 10 through the Christmas period, and maybe even beyond.
The Grinch
Cast
The Grinch follows the titular character as he devises a plan to disrupt the Christmas festivities of the cheerful Whoville residents. This animated adaptation captures the Grinch’s journey as he attempts to execute his scheme during the town’s annual holiday celebration.
