Gerard Butler may be riding high on the success of the live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake, but one of his most notorious misfires is suddenly back in the spotlight. The Bounty Hunter, a 2010 romantic comedy co-starring Jennifer Aniston, has found an unexpected second wind on Paramount+, where it's currently the fifth most-watched movie in the U.S. as of June 2026.
The film, which pairs Butler's rough-and-tumble bounty hunter with Aniston's sharp-tongued journalist, was panned by critics upon release, earning a dismal 13% on Rotten Tomatoes. One review called it "overlong, trope-filled and derivative." Yet despite the critical drubbing, the movie managed to gross $135.8 million worldwide against a $45 million budget—a modest box office win that now looks even better in the streaming era.
Butler's recent career resurgence, led by his role as Stoick the Vast in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon (which grossed over $650 million globally), has renewed interest in his earlier work. With a sequel to that blockbuster already slated for June 2027 and Cate Blanchett returning as Valka, fans are revisiting Butler's filmography—including this forgotten rom-com.
For those who missed it the first time, The Bounty Hunter follows a down-on-his-luck bounty hunter who gets a shot at redemption when he's assigned to bring in his ex-wife, a reporter who skipped bail. The chemistry between Butler and Aniston—the latter fresh off her Friends fame—was meant to be the film's selling point, but critics found the script lacking. Still, streaming audiences seem more forgiving, proving that even a critically savaged movie can find its audience years later.
Paramount+ is leaning into this trend, with horror also dominating the platform. Scream 7, despite its own critical backlash and behind-the-scenes controversy, has held the top spot since its late-May streaming debut, pulling in over $200 million at the global box office. The franchise's enduring popularity, led by Neve Campbell, shows that audience appetite for familiar faces—whether in horror or comedy—remains strong.
If you're curious about other overlooked gems, check out our list of Forgotten 80s Cult Classics That Deserve a Second Look. And for more on Paramount+'s streaming strategy, see how The Agency Season 2 Binge-Drop Propels Paramount+ Spy Thriller to #1.
Whether The Bounty Hunter will climb higher in the charts remains to be seen, but for now, it's a reminder that in the streaming age, no movie is ever truly gone—and sometimes, a second chance is all it takes.
