Credit: Netflix

The underrated sci-fi creation, The Creator, directed by Gareth Edwards, has officially found a second life on Netflix, cracking into the streamer’s weekly top 10 movies chart.

During the week of June 22nd to June 28th, the genre-blending movie amassed 3.2million views, ranking ninth on the global chart. Additionally, The Creator is one of the top 10 trending movies in 30 countries this week.

Set in 2070, The Creator centres on a fictional war between humanity and artificial intelligence, nearly a decade after an AI detonates a nuclear warhead in Los Angeles. The sci-fi action plot follows a hardened former US soldier, Joshua, who, when tasked to locate and destroy the elusive “Creator” of an advanced AI superweapon to end the conflict at large, does so, only to find himself in an existential dilemma.

While the surprise resurgence on Netflix charts is not an isolated case, the first and foremost obvious catalyst is its 2026 arrival on the service. For those unaware, the movie was originally added to the Netflix library on March 20th. Although it may not have experienced an immediate boost, the streaming release has clearly allowed it to reach a wider audience and break new ground in audience rediscovery with time.

During its theatrical run in 2023, The Creator grossed $104.3million worldwide after a reported budget of $80million, making it widely considered a lacklustre reception, despite general positive reviews. However, its streaming accessibility now flips the script, evolving into something that viewers continue to be fascinated by.

Another situation that may have favoured the film’s contemporary streaming boost is the franchise fatigue in the audience, making The Creator stand out as a truly original sci-fi film that doesn’t flinch to stray away from typical superhero-centric and franchise-driven content.

At the centre of The Creator are the themes of AI, human militarisation, conscience, and morality, which may seem unoriginal at a glance. However, these very themes have been sparking online discussions, with the movie ultimately benefiting from the continued discourse that keeps it in the conversation.

Of course, the Netflix algorithm has also played a crucial role in the movie’s chart debut. However, while we’re at it, we must not forget to mention the genre versatility of the movie that inevitably adds to the appeal.

So, if you want to experience the cross-genre appeal, tune into The Creator, currently streaming on Netflix.