Ben Affleck's 2023 sci-fi thriller Hypnotic has found a second life on Hulu, rocketing to the number-one spot on the platform's domestic movie chart this week. According to FlixPatrol, the film is currently outperforming heavy hitters like The Devil Wears Prada 2, Coraline, and even Affleck's own The Accountant 2. The surge in viewership marks a surprising turnaround for a movie that largely flew under the radar during its theatrical release.
Directed by Robert Rodriguez, who also served as editor and cinematographer, Hypnotic stars Affleck as a homicide detective whose investigation into a series of bizarre crimes connects to the disappearance of his daughter. The film's supporting cast includes Alice Braga, William Fichtner, and Jackie Earle Haley. Rodriguez's children also contributed behind the scenes, making it a family affair.
Despite its star power and mind-bending premise, Hypnotic struggled at the box office, earning only around $16 million against a reported $65 million budget. Critics were equally unkind, giving it a 32% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus read: "Although Hypnotic isn't without glimmers of inspiration, the ultimate effect of this often clunky crime caper will be to leave you feeling rather sleepy."
But streaming audiences seem to disagree. The film's twisty, dream-within-a-dream narrative has clearly struck a chord with Hulu subscribers, many of whom may be discovering it for the first time. It's a reminder that a movie's initial reception doesn't always tell the full story—sometimes it takes a second chance on a streaming platform to find its audience.
Affleck's career is currently in a fascinating phase. Later this year, he'll release his new directorial effort, Animals, on Netflix. The crime-thriller stars Affleck as a mayoral candidate whose child is kidnapped, forcing him into a moral quandary. Interestingly, that premise echoes Hypnotic's missing-daughter plot, albeit in a very different package. Animals arrives on Netflix on October 9.
Earlier this year, Affleck also teamed up with longtime friend and collaborator Matt Damon for The Rip, which became a major hit for Netflix. The film even earned praise from Quentin Tarantino, who called it the best movie he'd seen this year. With Hypnotic now dominating Hulu and Animals on the horizon, Affleck is proving that his appeal spans both theaters and streaming.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez is keeping busy with a new production company called Brass Knuckle Films, through which he's developing a fresh slate of projects. If Hypnotic's streaming success is any indication, audiences are still hungry for his unique brand of genre filmmaking.
For those who missed Hypnotic in theaters, now is the perfect time to catch it on Hulu. And if you're in the mood for more mind-bending thrillers, check out our list of rewatchable thrillers with hidden layers or revisit why Inception almost lost its iconic song. Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more streaming updates.
