Blockbuster Action Flop Gets Second Chance On Peacock
There was a lot of hype surrounding Bullet Train and Deadpool 2 director David Leitch’s 2024 film, The Fall Guy, but ultimately the movie would fall short at the box office. Starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt in a stunt fan’s dream, the movie just didn’t quite have the push that was needed to bring audiences into the theater. Now, three months after it celebrated its wide debut in U.S. cinemas, the action-packed film will crash onto Peacock on August 30, where those who missed out the first time can tune in from the comfort of their own home.
A Disgraced Stuntman Looking For Redemption
Serving as a semi-adaptation of the classic 1980s Lee Majors-led series, The Fall Guy sees Ryan Gosling take on the role of Colt Seavers – a stuntman whose career went down the tubes following an accident on set. No longer involved in the industry that he loved so dearly and having left his girlfriend, Jody (Emily Blunt), during one of his depressive spirals, Colt is working as a valet driver when he gets a call asking him to join the team on a new movie shooting in Australia.
A Chance To Make Things Right
Hesitant at first, Colt picks up the job when the voice on the other end of the phone reveals that his old flame, Jody, is not only making her directorial debut with the project but she’s also asked for the fall guy by name. Excited to make things right, when Colt arrives on the set, he discovers that Jody has no idea he’s going to be there and isn’t too keen on seeing him. But, when the film’s leading man (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) goes missing, Colt will do everything in his power to track him down, bring him back, and get the girl.
In It To Win It
As can likely be gathered by the names mentioned so far, The Fall Guy is overflowing with talent, which shouldn’t be much of a surprise considering A-list stars David Leitch has worked with in the past. Also included in the lineup are Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham, Academy Award nominee Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once), the Black Panther franchise star Winston Duke, and more.
A Critical Hit But Not A High Earner
But, even with all the star power backing The Fall Guy and the promise of explosive stunts and an equally ticking time bomb of a relationship dynamic, the movie just didn’t quite live up to the success it was eying at the box office. Having dropped a whopping $125-150 million on making the movie take flight, the box office haul for Ryan Gosling’s follow-up to Barbie grossed only $178.1 million – barely breaking even against its production budget. Still, critics largely had kind words for the high-octane flick, which currently sits on Rotten Tomatoes with an 82% approval rating.
Getting A Second Chance On Peacock
GFR SCORE
So, will The Fall Guy be worth adding to your Peacock queue when it arrives on August 30? On our end, we can’t get enough of the incredible action sequences perfected by some of the best stunt performers in the business, and the chemistry between its two leading characters. It does hit a bit of a slowdown midway through with dialogue but this movie is a terrific one for anyone fascinated by the way movies are made – particularly when it comes to the folks who take the tumbles, set themselves on fire, and crash through panes of glass.
