We all know that when it comes to the popularity of Tom Hanks, there is no sign of slowing down. Thanks to OTT platforms like Netflix for streaming the 2000 hit movie Cast Away, which just proved how durable his legacy is.
We all now live in an era where true movie stars feel increasingly rare, and to be honest, actors like Hanks are making sure to continue to bridge generations. Releasing such hit films in today’s world, where home screening is considered to be the most convenient way of viewing, both longtime fans and first-time viewers can enjoy the glory and beginning of modern Hollywood.
Cast Away finds new life
While recent projects such as the globally praised Elvis, A Man Called Otto, and the upcoming Disney’s beloved franchise Toy Story 5 are a footnote, showing he is still active at the highest level. It is his older work that keeps finding new life on streaming platforms.
Hank’s Cast Away has reportedly climbed up to the top charts of Netflix’s US movies and is currently at number nine after arriving on the service on December 7.
For those who are interested in watching it, they are in for a treat, as this movie is a survival drama. Fans and audiences are currently (once again) revisiting the story that is about Chuck Noland, a FedEx executive stranded on a deserted island, and his unlikely bond with a volleyball memorably named Wilson.
The movie was widely praised upon release, earning an 88 percent Rotten Tomatoes score and grossing an impressive 429 million dollars worldwide. During that time, it was only movies like Mission: Impossible 2 and Gladiator that outperformed it at the box office in the same year.
A holiday hit no one expected
Hanks’ near-silent performance, which carried long stretches of the film alone, earned him his fifth Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, which only cemented his reputation and legacy as one of the most reliable performers of his generation.
But that is not all, because this film was also a holiday juggernaut. Premiering just before Christmas, Cast Away had already broken records with the highest-grossing Christmas opening weekend at the time.
Surpassing movies like Patch Adams, it went on to claim the biggest New Year’s Eve box office haul, briefly overtaking James Cameron’s Titanic. While those records were eventually broken, they underline how culturally dominant the film was during its original run.
Its current Netflix success is not a reassessment but a continuation, that even after twenty-five years on, the film is still enduring.
