Russell Croweremains one of the most recognizable names and faces in Hollywood. Crowe remains best known for several seminal performances in the late ’90s and early ’00s, including as a rule-breaking detective inL.A. Confidential(1997), a big tobacco whistleblower inThe Insider(1999), a mathematical genius inA Beautiful Mind(2001), and a just captain inMaster and Commander: The Far Side of the World(2003). It’s his role asMaximus inGladiator, however, that arguably remains his most iconic part.
The early ’00s saw Crowe frequently playing more traditionally heroic charactersand this would largely continue in subsequent years, but there were also some outliers. He played a violent and yet charming criminal in3:10 to Yuma(2007) and Henry Jekyll inThe Mummy(2017). Jekyll had marked one of Crowe’s most outwardly villainous roles at the time, and it ended up setting the stage for an even darker and more sinister performance a few years later.
Unhinged Becomes A Major Netflix Success
Viewers Are Loving The Russell Crowe Thriller
Unhinged, released in 2020, has now become a big streaming success on Netflix. Directed by Derrick Borte,Unhingedfeatures Crowe starring simply as Man, an unstable commuter who targets Rachel (Caren Pistorius) after a road rage incident. Released in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the film wasn’t a major box office success, grossing just $44 million on an estimated budget of $33 million.
With a $33 million budget,Unhingedmay have been looking at a break-even point of between $66 million and $82.5 million.
New data fromNetflixnow reveals thatUnhingedranks as the eighth most popular movie globally on the streamer for the week of October 14 – 20. The thriller racked up an impressive 7.9 million hours viewed with 5.2 million views in total.Unhingedmanages to beat titles likeJurassic World Dominion(2022) andVenom: Let There Be Carnage(2021), but falls behind others likeThe Predator(2018),Bad Boys: Ride or Die(2024), andSing(2016), withLonely Planet(2024) in the top position. Check out the full top 10 list below:
1
13.7
2
Woman of the Hour
9.9
3
7
4
6.9
5
5.9
6
Bad Boys: Ride or Die
5.5
5.3
8
5.2
9
4.6
10
4.1
Our Take On Unhinged’s Netflix Success
How Crowe’s Film Fared With Critics & Audiences
Unhinged’s reviewsmay not have been glowing, with the film currently featuring a lackluster 48% onRotten Tomatoesfrom critics, but it nonetheless represents an interesting shift for Crowe. It is arguably his most dastardly character yet, andhe’s truly frightening as a random stranger who targets an innocent woman due to an unlucky traffic incident. One idea that the film plays with is that such an encounter could truly happen to anyone, and that’s part of why it’s so frightening.
10 Most Rewatchable Russell Crowe Movies, Ranked
From grand historical epics to intimate romantic dramas, in his long and varied career, Russell Crowe has had plenty of endlessly rewatchable movies.
The film fared somewhat better with audiences, sporting a 77% Rotten Tomatoes audience score, and there’s certainly some fun to be had with this pulpy thriller. The premise is straightforward and there are some great moments of tension throughout, andCrowe’s wild role is undoubtedly part of why the film is achieving streaming success.Unhinged’s ending also escalatesto some extreme acts of violence. While not likely to be mentioned as one of the best movies of Crowe’s filmography,Unhingedstill displays an interesting new side to the actor and makes for a fun popcorn thriller.
Other notable movies byUnhingeddirector Derrick Borte include 2009’sThe Jonesesand 2016’sLondon Town.
Since starring inUnhinged,the lead actor has not had any villain roles that have matched up to the level of realismand suspense as this movie. His next major antagonist role will be as Nikolai Kravenoff in thecast ofKraven the Hunter, although it’s unclear just how major a role he’ll have in the film. Because of his minimal appearances as a villain in recent years, the thriller’s Netflix re-release offered something new for Crowe after a number of heroic portrayals throughout his career.
The Action Thriller Doesn’t Let Up
While the movie often portrays itself as a grounded, realistic portrayal of road rage gone wrong,Unhingedwas inspired by 1971’sDuel, Steven Spielberg’s first movie about a relentless trucker.This comes out in many scenes featuring the Man’s pursuit of Rachel, especially as the film continues to build toward its climax. It’s also clear in how thecast ofUnhingedis portrayed, with characters taking on archetypal roles for the story being told. However, it’s unique thanks to Crowe’s threatening performance and the way his intriguing antagonist is explored.
While there are plenty ofintense thrillers likeUnhinged, the movie offers a unique experience, particularly because of its lead role’s startling performance. While critics may not have enjoyed the film as much as audiences, its distinction among Crowe’s work makes it stand out for the actor, regardless of reception.He’ll even be teaming up with the director, Borte, once morefor thecrime thrillerBear Country. SinceUnhingedis growing in success on Netflix, it could indicate the potential for even stronger villain rolesCrowecan take in the future.
Unhinged
Cast
Unhinged is a thriller directed by Derrick Borte, featuring Russell Crowe as a man who becomes violently unhinged following a road rage incident. The film explores themes of escalating tension and personal safety as the protagonist, portrayed by Caren Pistorius, becomes the target of Crowe’s character’s wrath.
