(Credit: Netflix)

Some movies disappear quietly on Netflix. They release, make a little noise, and then fade into the background of late-night TV schedules. But every now and then, somehow, Netflix viewers revive one of those titles and throw it back into the spotlight. That’s exactly what has happened with a Morgan Freeman movie.

We’re talking about Along Came a Spider. More than twenty years after its release, this Freeman thriller has suddenly climbed back into Netflix Global’s Top 10 and is sitting at number eight in the most popular charts.

For anyone who hasn’t seen it or barely remembers it, the film came out in 2001 as a sequel to the 1997 movie Kiss the Girls. Freeman returns as detective and profiler Alex Cross, a character originally created by author James Patterson. The story starts with the kidnapping of a senator’s young daughter, and what looks like a standard ransom case quickly turns into something far more dangerous. Every clue reveals another layer of deceit, and the closer Cross gets to the truth, the more twisted the game becomes.

Freeman led the film with the kind of performance only he can deliver. He is calm and always two steps ahead. Also, something to notice is that his Alex Cross isn’t a loud action hero. He is the kind of detective who makes you listen closely to every word and waits for the pieces to click together. A major reason for the film to trend is the quiet intensity of Morgan Freeman, which has kept fans of the character loyal.

When Along Came a Spider first hit theatres, it wasn’t a runaway hit. The film did fine at the box office but never reached the status of an unforgettable classic. Over the years, it slowly became one of those movies that people might catch halfway through on cable but rarely sought out. But that’s until now.

Part of the appeal of the film also lies in the kind of story it tells. Unlike today’s high-tech thrillers that are stuffed with gadgets and digital trickery, Along Came a Spider thrives on complete old-school suspense. It is about a man’s intellect and his ability to read people. More importantly, his patience to wait for the truth to reveal itself. In a landscape where shows like Hostage or Love Con Revenge dominate Netflix with flashy drama, Freeman’s slow-burning detective work feels almost refreshing.

So why now? Maybe it’s because viewers are craving something grounded after bingeing through glossy new releases. Maybe it’s because a younger audience is discovering Freeman outside of his more famous roles. Or maybe it’s just Netflix doing what it does best: shining a light on titles that deserve another round of attention. Whatever the reason, Along Came a Spider has gone from forgotten thriller to trending title, reminding everyone that Morgan Freeman doesn’t need explosions to capture an audience.

More than two decades later, the film finally has the eyes it missed the first time. At number eight on Netflix, Along Came a Spider is proof that no movie ever really disappears. It just waits for the right moment to strike again.