Gerard Butler's latest action-sci-fi sequel, Greenland 2: Migration, may have stumbled at the box office earlier this year, but it's now staging a major comeback on streaming. According to the latest Nielsen ratings, the film was one of the most-watched movies during the week of May 11–17, pulling in 207 million minutes viewed on HBO Max. That made it the only HBO Max title to crack the top 10 streaming movies that week.
The film, which also stars Morena Baccarin, hit theaters on January 9 and was expected to build on the modest success of its predecessor, 2020's Greenland. That earlier film became a quiet hit on home video and streaming, but the sequel failed to ignite the same excitement in cinemas. With a reported budget of $90 million, Greenland 2: Migration grossed just $44 million worldwide, making it one of the year's biggest box-office disappointments.
But as we've seen time and again, a theatrical flop doesn't always mean a film is dead. Streaming platforms have given many underperforming movies a second life, and Greenland 2 is the latest example. The Nielsen data shows that audiences are hungry for Butler's brand of rugged, end-of-the-world action, even if critics were lukewarm. The film currently holds a 48% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics' consensus noting that while the sequel lacks the "big bang thrills" of the original, Butler's "sturdy star power" keeps it engaging.
The movie's streaming success is part of a larger trend in 2026. While horror has dominated the year with hits like Obsession and Backrooms, the action genre—especially films targeting older male audiences—has struggled. Jason Statham's Shelter barely broke even with $53 million worldwide on a $50 million budget, and Guy Ritchie's In the Grey, starring Henry Cavill and Jake Gyllenhaal, earned just $17 million against a $70 million budget. Greenland 2: Migration was directed by Ric Roman Waugh, who also helmed Shelter, making for a tough year for the filmmaker.
Butler, a reliable action star for years, needed a win. The actor has built a career on tough-guy roles in films like Olympus Has Fallen and Den of Thieves, but the theatrical landscape has shifted. Streaming, however, offers a new frontier. The Nielsen report underscores that audiences are still eager to watch Butler in action, even if they prefer to do so from their living rooms.
This isn't the first time a streaming platform has revived a film's fortunes. Earlier this year, Netflix's Nemesis became a sleeper hit with over 1.31 billion minutes watched, proving that streaming can turn underperformers into cultural moments. Similarly, The Boys smashed 50 billion minutes watched on Prime Video, cementing its legacy as a streaming powerhouse.
For now, Greenland 2: Migration is enjoying a well-deserved second chance. Whether this streaming success will lead to a third installment remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Gerard Butler's star power is far from dim. Stay tuned for more updates on this and other streaming hits.
