Jeremy Renner’s Cult Classic Fairy Tale Is Climbing The Streaming Charts
Jeremy Renner's Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is in the top ten most-watched movies on Paramount+.
Although Jeremy Renner is undoubtedly best known for his turn as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, having portrayed the skilled archer in over half a dozen features in the MCU, the 52-year-old actor has an extensive filmography. Back in 2013, Renner played Hansel in the fantasy action flick Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters. According to Flix Patrol, the Tommy Wirkola-directed film is currently #9 on Paramount+.
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is a violent and action-packed reimagining of the classic fairy tale. The movie follows siblings Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and Gretel (Gemma Arterton), who have become skilled witch hunters after surviving their encounter with one in their childhood. They travel from town to town, taking contracts to rid the world of the evil creatures that lurk in the shadows.
As they investigate a series of child abductions in a small town, Hansel and Gretel discover a powerful coven of witches led by the evil Muriel (Famke Janssen). As they uncover Muriel’s plans to use the children for a dark ritual during the upcoming blood moon, the siblings must fight to save the innocent and stop the witches from unleashing their full power. Along the way, they team up with a local troll and confront their own troubled pasts.
Along with Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters stars Peter Stormare, Famke Janssen, Pihla Viitala, Derek Mears, Robin Atkin Downes, Ingrid Bolso Berdal, and Thomas Mann. In addition to directing the film, Tommy Wirkola penned the screenplay, which is based on the famed tale Hansel and Gretel by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. The movie was distributed by Paramount Pictures.
One of the most impressive aspects of Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is the chemistry between Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton. The two actors play off each other perfectly, creating a believable sibling dynamic that adds depth to the film’s action sequences. Although Hansel is protective of his sister, he knows when to step back and let her take the lead. This balance makes their partnership feel authentic and gives the movie a surprisingly strong emotional core.
Jeremy Renner also brings a sense of humor to his portrayal of Hansel, which serves to lighten the mood of the film. Despite the dark subject matter, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters has a playful tone that is reflected in Renner’s performance. He delivers his lines with a sardonic wit that is both charming and entertaining. This humor is especially effective in the movie’s more absurd moments, such as when Hansel and Gretel use their weapons to create an impromptu firework show.
In addition to being known for his dedication to his craft as an actor, often immersing himself in his roles to deliver authentic and compelling performances, Jeremy Renner has also been recognized for his willingness to perform his own stunts, even when they put him at risk of injury. With that said, it should come as no surprise that Renner sustained injuries to both of his arms while performing a stunt during the filming of Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters. But despite the injury, the actor continued filming and even incorporated his casts into some of the movie’s scenes.
Although the film opened to mostly negative reviews from critics when it arrived in theaters on January 25, 2013, Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton received heaps of praise for their performances. On Rotten Tomatoes, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters has a rotten score of 16 percent from professional critics and a score of 53 percent from audiences. A large portion of viewers criticized the movie’s writing and pacing.
Despite mixed reviews, however, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters was a commercial success, grossing over $226 million worldwide on a budget of $50 million. The film performed particularly well in international markets, where it earned over $170 million. Although fans hoped that the movie’s success meant it would be getting a sequel, no official plans for a follow-up have been announced.
In the years since the film’s release, Jeremy Renner has had prominent roles in dozens of features, including Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Avengers: Endgame, and Mayor of Kingstown. Up next for the Oscar-nominated actor is an Untitled Oxycontin Project from writing/directing duo Aaron Gaudent and Gita Pullapilly. Renner is also rumored to have a role in the upcoming and hotly anticipated Marvel film Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
Currently, Jeremy Renner is recovering from a horrible accident that left him in critical condition. Back in January, the Tag star suffered life threatening injuries after he was crushed by a snow plow at his home in Nevada. Along with suffering from blunt chest trauma, the actor was left with over 30 broken bones as a result of the accident.
