The video game adaptation genre is oneMilla Jovovichis plenty familiar with, and one of her movies is now climbing the streaming charts. After some smaller roles in the late ’80s, Jovovich first rose to stardom with her turn as Leeloo in Luc Besson’sThe Fifth Element. The years since have seen her star in everything fromSpike Lee’sHe Got Gameto Ben Stiller’sZoolanderand its sequel, as well as David Harbour’sHellboyreboot.
Her most notable project to date, however, remains that oftheResident Evilmovie franchise, an adaptation of Capcom’s survival horror video game series of the same name. Partnered with her husband, writer/director Paul W.S. Anderson,Jovovich carried the role of heroine Alice through six movies, while also having starred in Anderson’s adaptations ofThe Three Musketeersand George R.R. Martin’sIn the Lost Lands. Among their collaborations is a video game adaptation that, despite being overlooked at the time, is now seeing some success.
Jovovich’s Monster Hunter Movie Is Climbing Hulu’s Charts
The Adaptation Remains One Of Anderson’s Better-Received Movies
Monster Hunterhad spent the better part of a decade in development with Anderson working to acquire the rights from Capcom, with the movie eventually hitting theaters in late 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Jovovich led the cast as Natalie Artemis, a US Army Ranger who finds herself and her team pulled into an alternate realm populated with large creatures. Also starring Tony Jaa and Ron Perlman,Monster Huntersaw mixed reviews from criticsand was a box office disappointment, grossing just shy of $48 million against its $60 million production budget.
Now, just over four years after the movie hit theaters,Monster Hunteris climbing up Hulu’s charts. Anderson and Jovovich’s video game adaptation currently sits at the No. 3 spot on the platform’s Top 15 Movies Today chart, sitting behindBill Burr: Drop Dead Yearsat the No. 1 spot and the newly premiered Kelly Marie Tran Hulu Original,Control Freak.
The rest of the chart is a wide range of genres, including the documentary,Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halynaat No. 4, theHellboyreboot,The Crooked Man, at No. 5, the comediesConfessions of a Shopaholicat No. 6,The Ugly Truthat No. 7,The Truman Showat No. 8 andAnger Managementat No. 9.
The final five spots on the chart include the Matt Damon and Robin Williams dramedyGood Will Huntingat No. 10, the historical dramedyThe Helpat No. 11, horror-thrillerLonglegsat No. 12, Quentin Tarantino’sPulp Fictionat No. 13, action-comedyThe Other Guysat No. 14 and Eric Bana’sForce of Nature: The Dry 2at No. 15.
Our Take On Monster Hunter’s Newfound Streaming Success
Jovovich’s Acting Return & The Video Game Adaptation Resurgence Are Big Helps
While it still failed to breakAnderson’s negative streakon Rotten Tomatoes,Anderson’sMonster Hunteradaptation does still stand out as one of the better of his video game movies. Currently holding a 44% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie marks his second-highest-reviewed directorial project and his second-highest-reviewed video game adaptation, situated just behind hisMortal Kombatmovie. Check out howMonster Huntercompares to Anderson’s other movies on Rotten Tomatoes below:
47%
58%
35%
62%
17%
44%
36%
67%
18%
60%
21%
39%
41%
48%
26%
69%
28%
51%
27%
34%
38%
70%
23%
45%
Regardless of how the movie performed at the time, there are a few likely reasons whyMonster Hunteris enjoying a resurgence on the streaming charts. The first, and most likely, is that Anderson and Jovovich’s names are back in the mainline conversation thanks to the release of their adaptation ofGeorge R.R. Martin’sIn the Lost Lands.Though similarly panned by critics, as is much of Anderson’s filmography, some might feel nostalgic about visiting the duo’s past projects together.
Why The Rotten Tomatoes Score For Milla Jovovich & Dave Bautista’s New Action Movie Is So Low
In the Lost Lands, the new post-apocalyptic action movie starring Milla Jovovich and Dave Bautista, has a very low score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The other likely reason whyMonster Hunteris climbing streaming charts all these years later is that the video game adaptation genre is arguably more popular now than ever. With everything fromtheSonic the HedgehogmoviestoMortal Kombat, HBO’sThe Last of Usand Prime Video’sFalloutoffering faithful translations of their source materials for the screen, even the sometimes overlooked properties, like Anderson’s or Josh Ruben’s acclaimedWerewolves Within, are now getting some extra love.
Monster Hunter
Cast
Monster Hunter is a science fiction action film directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. Based on the popular video game series, it stars Milla Jovovich as Captain Artemis, who, along with her team, is transported to a new world inhabited by powerful monsters. They must adapt and fight their way through to survive. The film also features Tony Jaa as the Hunter, who aids Artemis in her quest.
