Jeff Bridges’ Worst Movie Of All Time Is Somehow Killing It On Netflix
R.I.P.D., the box office disaster comic book film starring Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds, is a hit on Netflix.
Jeff Bridges may star in one of the highest-rated television shows currently on the air, The Old Man, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t accepted roles in some questionable projects in the past. Back in 2013, the Hell or High Water actor headlined the sci-fi action flick R.I.P.D., and even though it’s arguably the award-winning star’s worst motion picture to date, it appears to be getting a new lease on life thanks to Netflix. According to Flix Patrol, the critically panned movie is currently #1 on the streaming service.
R.I.P.D., also marketed as R.I.P.D.: Rest in Peace Department, is based on the 1999 comic book of the same name by Peter M. Lenkov. The film was greenlit by Universal Pictures in September 2020, with Robert Schwentke (Red, Flight Plan) attached to direct and Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) and Jeff Bridges (Tron) joining the project shortly after as the two leads. Shooting on the movie wrapped in January 2012, and it was released in theaters on July 19, 2013.
The film centers on Nick Walker (Ryan Reynolds), an otherwise conscientious Boston police detective killed in the line of duty, who teams up with Roy Pulsipher (Jeff Bridges), a veteran officer of the Rest in Peace Police Department, to track down stubborn rogue spirits refusing to cross over. Of course, dark forces are against them, and a sinister plan threatens the supernatural police force and the fragile cosmic equilibrium between this world and the afterlife. Now, it’s up to the cops from beyond to save the day and the souls of all mankind.
In addition to Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds, R.I.P.D. has a solid cast that includes Mary-Louise Parker, Kevin Bacon, James Hong, Robert Knepper, Marissa Miller, Michael Coons, and Larry Joe Campbell. Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi penned the screenplay. The writing duo previously scribed the scripts for Aeon Flux and Clash of the Titans.
Even though R.I.P.D. was released during a time when comic book adaptations like Man of Steel, Iron Man 3, and Thor: The Dark World were absolutely dominating the box office, the Robert Schwentke-directed feature didn’t resonate with audiences. The film absolutely bombed at the box office, taking in just $12.7 million in its debut weekend. With an estimated production budget of $130 million, the movie earned a measly $78 million globally by the end of its theatrical run.
R.I.P.D. was absolutely maligned by both critics and audiences alike, and poor word of mouth undoubtedly played a huge part in the film’s lousy box office performance. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has a score of 12 percent from professional critics and a score of 38 percent from everyday viewers. Although Jeff Bridges was praised for his performance in the film, not even his incredible acting chops were enough to save the disastrous picture.
Despite the movie’s poor reception and terrible box office performance, R.I.P.D. received a follow-up in the form of last year’s prequel R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned. Released on November 15, 2022, the direct-to-video feature stars Jeffrey Donovan, Penelope Miller, Rachel Adedeji, Jake Choi, Richard Brake, and Craige Els. The story follows a resurrected sheriff recruited by the R.I.P.D. to save humanity from a gateway to hell.
