George Clooney And Brad Pitt Shatter Streaming Record
Apple has been trying to grow the AppleTV+ service for a while now by throwing large budgets at megastar directors and performers, including Martin Scorsese with Killers of the Flower Moon and Matthew Vaughn with Argylle, with mixed results. All it took, though, was one week for Wolfs, starring George Clooney and Ben Affleck, to become the most-watched movie on the streaming platform. This comes from Deadline, who reported that the movie brought with it an amazing 30 percent increase in overall viewership for the week.
Justifies Apple’s Movie Strategy
According to the report, Apple is very happy with how Wolfs has performed, which is good, as the company already greenlit a sequel by director Jon Watts, with both George Clooney and Brad Pitt returning. The success of the new movie helps justify Apple’s content strategy, which hit a roadblock when Argylle and Napoleon failed to perform in theaters, while Killers of the Flower Moon disappointed before going on to win major awards. This time around, the Clooney/Pitt film skipped a wide run in theaters and went directly to AppleTV+.
Two Fixers, One Problem
Wolfs follows two fixers, think The Wolf from Pulp Fiction, who work for two different clients but for the same goal: protect the reputation and livelihood of their wealthy clients. George Clooney is working for Margaret, a wealthy attorney with a big problem, while Brad Pitt represents Pam, the owner of the hotel where the trouble went down. The two men, both professionals, bond over their similar jobs and attitudes as the night goes on, and the problems keep piling up.
Small-Scale Film, Big-Scale Success
This isn’t the first time that George Clooney and Brad Pitt have worked together, but it is the only time outside of the Ocean’s trilogy. Joining them in Wolfs is Amy Ryan, who you’d recognize as Holly from The Office, Euphoria’s Austin Abrams, Richard Kind, and Frances McDormand. It’s a small-scale film, especially compared to the likes of Napoleon and Argyle, but that’s why it’s now a history-making success.
AppleTV Is Becoming A Must-Watch Service
AppleTV+ is slowly amassing a catalog of must-see hits, including Ted Lasso, Silo, Severance, and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Wolfs is the latest sign that the service is finally, years after its debut, picking up steam. More major stars like George Clooney and Brad Pitt might start signing on to the service, but then again, it already has Reese Witherspoon, Harrison Ford, and Adam Scott in award-winning shows, so how much bigger can the star power get?
What’s Next For The Stars
After the success of Wolfs, George Clooney is going to be laying low for a little bit, with no major upcoming films on his slate, but Brad Pitt is gearing up to bring F1, the racing movie that saw him get behind the wheel of a real F1 race car, to theaters next Summer. As for Apple, the streaming service’s next big film will be Blitz, a historical World War Two drama from Steve McQueen about the Battle for Britain. The film will, again, have a very brief run in theaters before debuting on the streaming service, as Apple hopes for a repeat of its recent success.
Source: Deadline
Login with Google