Normally, when older movies hit thestreaming service’scharts, it’s inspiteof their critical or commercial failures. For instance, the widely panned Mel Gibson flickOn the Lineenjoyed a new life on Netflix, and the same goes for the forgotten Pedro Pascal filmThe Great Wall.
The directorial debut from Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz landed on Netflix on May 5, and it’s already raced to sixth place. You can see the full top 10 movies list as it currently stands below:
The Peanut Butter Falcon is a modern-day retelling of Huckleberry Finn, centering on Zak (Zack Gottsagen), a young man with Down’s syndrome who lives in a nursing home but dreams of becoming a professional wrestler.
One night, Zak decides to escape from the facility to pursue his dream. Along the way, he encounters Tyler (LaBeouf), a small-time outlaw on the run, and the two form an unlikely bond as they embark on a journey together.
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As they travel through the picturesque landscapes of North Carolina, Zak and Tyler encounter various challenges and adventures. Meanwhile, a kind social worker named Eleanor (Johnson) sets out to find Zak, but when she catches up to them and learns the truth, she joins them on their quest.
Among the many positive reviews, the key highlight is thatThe Peanut Butter Falconfeels touching and heartwarming, yet never contrived or corny. The cast also received praise, particularly Gottsagen’s performance as the lead character.
“The role was written specifically for him after writer-directors Tyler Nilson and Mike Schwartz were floored by his talent at a camp for actors with disabilities,”wrotethe Guardian. “Gottsagen delivers on that promise with an emotionally persuasive performance that anchors this backwater yarn.”
Daisy Phillipson is a Senior TV and Movies Writer on Dexerto’s UK Team. She’s a lover of horror, crime, psychological thrillers. After graduating with a Masters in Magazine Journalism, she’s gone on to write for Digital Spy, LADbible and Little White Lies. You can contact her at daisy.phillipson@dexerto.com
