Netflix Now Has Ryan Reynolds’ Critically Acclaimed Box-Office Flop

Over the years, Ryan Reynolds has proven to be somewhat of a box office whisperer, cranking out a number of hit movies. Whether he’s starring as a foul-mouthed anti-hero in the Deadpoolfilms, or making moviegoers laugh alongside Sandra Bullock and the late Betty White in The Proposal, or helping to lead family hits like If, Reynolds is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood today. However, like nearly every actor, Reynolds has had a rare moment where he had a misfire at the box office. 

Case in point, the year was 2015, and Reynolds, alongside Ben Mendelsohn, Sienna Miller, Lio Tipton, and Alfre Woodard, starred in a top-reviewed dramedy about two gamblers drawn to each other on a journey to make a big payday. Unfortunately, according to Box Office Mojo, the film only raked in an estimated $422,746 worldwide. Even though it was an indie flick, considering it had an alleged $7.1 million budget, the movie was labelled a flop. The most shocking part about all of this is that critics loved it. As of publication, it’s Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a 91% score. 

With all that being said, Netflix subscribers now have the opportunity to give the movie a real chance and watch it, seeing for themselves if they should feel guilty for not paying more attention to the Reynolds project. So what’s the movie? 

Ryan Reynolds' 'Mississippi Grind' Is Now Streaming on Netflix 

Written and directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, and distributed by the highly esteemed A24, here’s the official synopsis of Mississippi Grind:

"In this lively, freewheeling road movie, Emmy Award-nominee Ben Mendelsohn plays Gerry, a talented but down-on-his-luck gambler whose fortunes begins to change when he meets Curtis (Ryan Reynolds), a younger, highly charismatic poker player. The two strike up an immediate friendship and Gerry quickly persuades his new friend to accompany him on a road trip to a legendary high stakes poker game in New Orleans. As they make their way down the Mississippi River, Gerry and Curtis manage to find themselves in just about every bar, racetrack, casino, and pool hall they can find, experiencing both incredible highs and dispiriting lows, but ultimately forging a deep and genuine bond that will stay with them long after their adventure is over.

"Reminiscent of classic 1970s American Cinema, Mississippi Grind is an unforgettable journey featuring two characters who—flawed as they may be—are always worth rooting for. It’s a film about friendship, addiction, regret, family, and the paths we sometimes unexpectedly find ourselves on—told with empathy, humor, and a remarkable light touch by acclaimed filmmakers Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (Half Nelson, It’s Kind of A Funny Story)."

What Did Critics Say about 'Mississippi Grind'? 

Again, the movie has a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Bill Goodykoontz of the USA Today Network applauded Mendelsohn in the movie and said of Reynolds: 

“Reynolds, on the other hand, has always seemed like a talented actor in search of better material (see Green Lantern for proof — or better yet, don’t). He’s been really good in small films like Buried, but you always got the idea he was capable of more. Turns out you were right. He’s the perfect complement to Mendelsohn.”

Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times called Mississippi Grind, “One of the better movies about the gambling culture in recent years.” Additionally, Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post claimed, “Mississippi Grind winds up being an improbably satisfying, even heartwarming character study.”

If you want to check out Mississippi Grind for yourself, you can do so with a subscription to Netflix. Although if you don’t have one, it is available to stream for free on Pluto TV and Tubi.

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