Anne Hathaway is having a banner year, with roles in Christopher Nolan's epic The Odyssey, the sequel The Devil Wears Prada 2, and the original sci-fi feature The End of Oak Street. Her two blockbusters have collectively grossed over $2.5 billion worldwide, and her thriller Verity is generating awards buzz. But amid all the mainstream success, one of her most daring performances—a genre-bending cult classic from nearly a decade ago—has just found a new home on Paramount+.
That film is Colossal, directed by Nacho Vigalondo, the mind behind the time-travel thriller Timecrimes. Hathaway stars as Gloria, an alcoholic who discovers she can control a giant monster rampaging through Seoul from thousands of miles away. The movie also features Jason Sudeikis and Dan Stevens in supporting roles, blending a character study of addiction with dark comedy and kaiju spectacle.
When Colossal first hit theaters in 2016, it was a box office disappointment, grossing under $5 million against a $15 million budget. Critics, however, were kinder—it holds an 82% Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus praising its "singular strangeness" and Hathaway's performance. The film's unconventional mix of tones may have confused mainstream audiences at the time, but its reputation has only grown since.
Part of that growth stems from the rising profiles of everyone involved. Hathaway has become an even bigger star, while Sudeikis found massive success with Ted Lasso, and Dan Stevens has carved out a niche in genre fare. Additionally, the global explosion of South Korean pop culture—from Parasite to BTS and Squid Game—has made the film's Korean setting and themes more resonant than ever. For fans of K-dramas with a dark twist, Colossal offers a unique Western take on similar themes.
Now, as Colossal celebrates its 10th anniversary, it's available to stream on Paramount+. This is a perfect opportunity for those who missed it in theaters to discover a movie that defies easy categorization. It's part monster movie, part addiction allegory, and part dark comedy—a combination that shouldn't work but somehow does, largely thanks to Hathaway's fearless lead performance.
For those who appreciate streaming platforms quietly building libraries of modern classics, Colossal is a welcome addition. It joins a growing catalog of underrated gems that have found second lives on streaming services. And with Hathaway's star power at an all-time high, this is the perfect moment for audiences to revisit or discover this oddity.
While Verity continues its theatrical run, Colossal offers a different side of Hathaway—one that takes risks and embraces the weird. It's a reminder that even A-list stars sometimes make bold, unconventional choices that don't always pay off at the box office but can become beloved cult favorites over time.
So, if you're in the mood for something that's equal parts thought-provoking and entertaining, give Colossal a stream on Paramount+. It's a film that rewards patience and open-mindedness, and it might just become your new favorite hidden gem.
