Gerard Butler's disaster film Geostorm has found a surprising resurgence on Netflix, climbing the streaming charts despite its dismal Rotten Tomatoes rating. Originally released in 2017, this sci-fi thriller centers on a team of scientists racing against time to prevent a catastrophic geostorm capable of erasing all life on Earth.
In Geostorm, Butler plays Jake Lawson, a satellite designer tasked with fixing malfunctioning satellites aboard the International Climate Space Station (ICSS). The film marked Dean Devlin's directorial debut, with a screenplay co-written by Devlin and Paul Guyot. The cast also includes notable actors such as Jim Sturgess, Abbie Cornish, Ed Harris, and Andy Garcia, as reported by the Mirror US.
Despite its star-studded ensemble and intriguing premise, Geostorm underperformed at the box office, grossing only $221.6 million globally against a hefty $120 million budget. This resulted in a staggering loss of $71.6 million for Warner Bros. Reviewers were quick to criticize the film, leading to a meager 18% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics pointed to issues with the narrative, underdeveloped characters, and "disappointing" special effects. The Hollywood Reporter summed it up by stating, "The planetary disaster film equivalent of a two-hour call to tech support, Dean Devlin's Geostorm boils down to that classically annoying hail-mary bit of advice: Have you tried shutting it down and rebooting?"
However, the film has recently gained new life since its arrival on Netflix on April 1, 2025. After hitting the platform, Geostorm quickly climbed to the number 4 spot on the US daily Top 10 chart before reaching number 2, where it remained for an impressive four-day streak.
This resurgence prompted a wave of reactions from viewers on X (formerly Twitter), with many fans expressing their renewed interest in the disaster flick. One user enthused, "Damn I love natural disaster movies so much lol currently watching #Geostorm," while another added, "Who hasn't watched #Geostorm? If you haven't, you might want to." A third viewer remarked, "One of those movies where most of the actors do a pretty good job with a really bad script."
Despite its initial failure, the film's newfound popularity on Netflix highlights a trend where previously overlooked movies find success on streaming platforms. This is not the first time a film has experienced a revival after being made available for streaming, as audiences often discover hidden gems in the vast library of content.
Interestingly, Butler's film has gained attention just as another of his projects is set to receive a sequel. The 2020 survival movie Greenland, which also faced a rocky release due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is slated for a sequel titled Greenland: Migration. This film, which follows a family fighting for survival as a comet races towards Earth, has garnered a much better critical reception, boasting a 77% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
After several delays, Greenland performed surprisingly well financially despite its at-home release, paving the way for its sequel, which has already wrapped filming and is expected to be released by Lionsgate sometime in 2025. As for the original Greenland, it remains available for streaming on Max.
As streaming services continue to shape the landscape of film consumption, viewers are increasingly discovering and revisiting films like Geostorm. Even with a poor critical reception, the film's blend of action and disaster elements resonates with audiences who enjoy high-stakes narratives. The success of Geostorm on Netflix is a testament to the platform's power to breathe new life into films that may have initially missed the mark.
In a world where the entertainment industry is constantly evolving, the ability of a film to find an audience long after its initial release speaks volumes about changing viewer preferences. The phenomenon of older films gaining traction on streaming platforms could suggest a shift in how audiences engage with cinema, moving away from traditional box office metrics to more holistic measures of success.
As for Geostorm, it stands as a reminder that sometimes, even the most critically panned films can find a second chance in the streaming era. With its blend of disaster and sci-fi, it remains an entertaining option for those looking to indulge in a thrilling cinematic experience.
In the meantime, fans of Gerard Butler can look forward to the upcoming release of Greenland: Migration, which promises to deliver more of the gripping action and emotional stakes that audiences have come to expect from the actor. As the film industry continues to navigate the challenges posed by changing consumer habits, one thing is clear: the appetite for disaster films, whether critically acclaimed or not, remains strong.
