‘Good Will Hunting’: the emotional drama climbing the Netflix charts
Time travel may not be a real thing. Yet, Netflix can always turn back time. This September, the streaming giant has witnessed the global rise of the 1997 emotional drama Good Will Hunting, on the Netflix charts, and not without reason.
In the week dated September 1st to September 7th, Gus Van Sant’s poignant drama has tiptoed inside the top ten most popular movies chart on Netflix, currently ranked tenth.
Good Will Hunting is one of those rare films from Hollywood’s Hall of Fame that easily stands the test of time. While Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s duo has forever been a Hollywood favourite, nothing probably hits home like this blast from the past. For the uninitiated, the movie revolves around Will Hunting, a 20-year-old janitor at MIT, with a checkered past and criminal record, who is an otherwise mathematical prodigy.
Good Will Hunting tells the story of the titular character’s journey from resistance and self-sabotage to self-discovery and emancipation. The film explores multifaceted themes, such as neglect and child abuse, but draws a full circle with Will’s discovery of self-righteousness and acceptance. But the burning question on every mind is: why is it suddenly storming the Netflix chart?
Despite being almost three decades old, Good Will Hunting remains as timeless as it can be. It was always ahead of its time. So, Netflix’s platform only boosts its visibility in the contemporary streaming era. While new audience discovery could have impacted the rise as well, the film already boasts a steady existing fan following who don’t mind a rewatch.
However, the most important factor that must have influenced its sudden rise on Netflix is the anticipation for Damon and Affleck’s upcoming Netflix collaboration, The Rip. The streaming giant most recently dropped a trailer that left viewers reeling midweek. Hence, it completely makes sense that the excitement for what’s to come traces back to the works that practically made them household names. The star effect is unreal, and not to underestimate the fact that it’s a visual masterpiece.
All in all, a combination of factors is at work behind the rekindled interest surrounding Good Will Hunting, including the fact that it evokes nostalgia, catering to the comfort value that viewers religiously crave.