Credit: Netflix

Netflix reclaiming the spotlight for old Hollywood gems is not a novel phenomenon. By now, it’s actually a masterclass in revival that has proven specifically beneficial this week for the forgotten 2009 adventure thriller: A Perfect Getaway.

During the week of May 25th to 31st, the American psychological thriller, directed by David Twohy, cracked the most popular movies chart, ranking fifth, right behind Swapped and GOAT. It debuted with a whopping 6.7million views, becoming the number one movie in 14 countries, including Brazil, the Bahamas, Colombia, Ecuador, and Honduras, among others.

A Perfect Getaway follows a newlywed couple hiking in Hawaii for their honeymoon. However, the remote hike takes a terrifying turn when they meet other hikers and learn about a pair of serial killers targeting tourists on the island. While the plot focuses on three sets of honeymooners, the nature adventure soon evolves into a deadly man-made game of paranoia and survival that comes across as a lesson for at least one: no more honeymoons!

When the thriller originally hit theatres, A Perfect Getaway was a modest box-office success, and the cultural footprint was not as impactful, but since Netflix has a thing for taking mid-budget, high-concept thrillers from the 2000s and 2010s, and feeding them to audiences looking for a quick excuse to munch on popcorn, this resurgence is not completely surprising.

Packed with a star-studded cast, what definitely contributes to A Perfect Getaway’s boost on Netflix is the star power. Timothy Olyphant appeared in the movie right before his iconic Justified stint, Milla Jovovich arrived fresh off her Resident Evil fame, and Chris Hemsworth in one of his very first Hollywood roles before going on to become Thor, to name a few.

While seeing them share the screen in a tight thriller is a great hook for casual browsing on streaming, the survival thriller is particularly famous for its mid-film plot twist that completely flips the narrative on its head.

Considering the hype surrounding survival thrillers following Apex and Thrash, A Perfect Getaway undeniably scratches the itch unlike any other, and finally, the most important factor that may have influenced the film’s powerhouse reception on streaming is Netflix’s catering to the summer craze of eco-horror thrillers.

Whenever summer comes around, viewers tend to incline heavily towards the irony of watching beautiful, picturesque holiday destinations evolve into absolute chaos while they sit safely on their couches and enjoy the unravelling.

Perhaps, it’s one way to counter Fomo and another to feed your guilty pleasures. In any case, now that A Perfect Getaway is on Netflix, we hope you know where to camp your tent.