Jennifer Lopez’s new action movie The Mother makes Netflix’s all-time top 10 list and pushes out Martin Scorsese’s Academy Award-nominated The Irishman. Lopez stars as the titular character, an unnamed assassin who reappears after years of living in seclusion to save the daughter she previously placed in foster care. After premiering in May, The Mother immediately proved popular, managing to score Netflix’s biggest opening weekend for a movie in 2023 so far.
The Mother remains at the top of Netflix‘s weekly charts and has made the streaming service’s all-time most popular English-language movies list with 229.3 million hours viewed in its first 28 days. By doing so, Lopez’s action-thriller replaces Purple Hearts in the No. 8 slot and pushes Scorsese’s The Irishman off the list entirely. Sandra Bullock’s 2021 redemption drama The Unforgivable now sits at the bottom of the list at No. 10.
Why The Mother Has Been So Popular
Despite The Mother‘s mixed reception from critics, earning a 43% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has remained popular on Netflix, topping the streaming giant’s weekly top 10 chart since its premiere. Although it may not win any major cinematic awards, The Mother‘s tried-and-true plot and taut action gives it a high level of accessibility. With Lopez as an instantly recognizable name headlining the movie, The Mother was seemingly assured of at least a decent streaming success before its release.
Part of The Mother‘s success can be attributed to the skill of its director, Niki Caro. The New Zealand-born filmmaker made a name for herself with the Māori drama Whale Rider, earning an Academy Award nomination for then 13-year-old star Keisha Castle-Hughes. Caro continued her directorial career with strong films, including North Country, McFarland, USA, and The Zookeeper’s Wife. Her penchant for strong female roles was evident in The Mother, as she helped Lopez deliver a riveting and challenging performance as a parent taking on waves of trained killers in order to save her daughter.
Due to The Mother‘s resounding success, Lopez and Netflix have considered turning the film into a franchise. Lopez previously discussed the possibility of a sequel centered on Zoe (Lucy Paez), who she dubbed “The Daughter.” However, no official announcement has been made so far. Based on these numbers, though, The Mother could spawn Netflix’s latest ongoing franchise.
Source: Netflix
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
