A decade since its debut, a Robert Downey Jr. film is unexpectedly soaring up the charts on Netflix. A decade after its premiere, "The Judge," which features Robert Downey Jr., has been swiftly ascending the ranks on Netflix's American platform since its introduction last week. The film has garnered over 5.3 million views and currently ranks as the third favorite on Netflix, trailing only behind "Shrek" and Jerry Seinfeld's comedic take on Pop-Tarts titled "Unfrosted."
In "The Judge," Downey Jr. portrays Hank Palmer, a Chicago attorney who returns to his birthplace following his mother's demise. During his visit, he finds his alienated father (played by Robert Duvall), who serves as the town's judge, implicated in a murder case, prompting Hank to unravel the truth. The supporting cast includes notable actors such as Vincent D'Onofrio, Jeremy Strong, Vera Farmiga, and Billy Bob Thornton.
Directed by David Dobkin, the film marks an unexpected direction in his career. Dobkin is known for his work on "Wedding Crashers," a 2005 hit comedy featuring Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn, as well as for directing "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga," a Netflix comedy from 2020 that stars Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams as Iceland's entrants in the Eurovision Song Contest.
When it debuted in 2014, "The Judge" elicited a variety of responses. Although the film itself only achieved a modest 49% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was criticized by Total Film as "manipulative middlebrow awards bait" without the necessary depth for accolades, Robert Duvall's performance stood out, earning him nominations for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe. "The Observer" criticized the film for its "sentimental silliness and courtroom clichés," while "Rolling Stone" described it as an "overstuffed, overlong slog." Despite the criticism, the performances were well-received, with "Time Out" commending Downey Jr.'s "charismatic performance" and "The Hollywood Reporter" highlighting the genuine and emotionally resonant moments created by the cast, even in contrived situations.
"The Judge" is available to stream on Netflix in the United States.