(Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Netflix’s streaming phenomenon needn’t just be observed; it should be studied. Currently rising on the Netflix US top ten chart is a box office disappointment, Wrath of the Titans. Wrath of the Titans, the 2012 action fantasy flick serving as a sequel to the Clash of the Titans, is ranked fourth on the streamer’s global chart. This is not the first flick on Netflix that has lived up to the reputation of a sleeper hit. But it makes one curious about the reasons that must have been beneficial to its streaming favour.

Wrath of the Titans is a Dan Mazeau and David Leslie Johnson co-directed fantasy film. The story takes place a decade following the events of the Clash of the Titans and follows the fate of the Olympians. After prevailing against Hades’ Kaken, Wrath of the Titans introduces Zeus’s demigod son, Perseus. He now lives with his son, Heleus, as a fisherman. However, with the humans no longer submitting or praying to the gods, Zeus seeks Perseus’s aid to hold the tower of Tartarus, where the imprisoned Titan Kronos is kept.

The lack of prayers slowly renders the gods mortal. Overwhelmed by the fear of Kronos being let out of Tartarus, Zeus reaches out to his brothers, Hades, Poseidon and his son Ares. A fight ensues when Hades and Ares betray Zeus, leaving Poseidon fatally injured. Though Perseus initially rejects the offer, with Zeus imprisoned, his thunderbolt stolen, and Ares planning to revive Kronos, Zeus’s son finally sets out to rescue his father, save mankind, and overthrow Kronos.

The story may be steeped in mythological and fantastical magnanimity. However, unlike its predecessor, which cashed in a whopping $493.3million against a $125m budget, Wrath of the Titans could only secure a meagre $302m despite a bigger budget. Its underwhelming box office performance also cast a shadow on its sequel, Revenge of the Titans. It was cancelled in the aftermath of its predecessor’s disappointing reception. However, its mounting on Netflix charts has flipped the script once and for all.

Why is Wrath of the Titans so popular on Netflix?

One of the reasons for its newfound success on Netflix may be the ease of availability and accessibility on streaming, exposing Wrath of the Titans to a newer audience. Moreover, the theatrical expectation differs variably from streaming anticipation, making viewers more lenient towards viewing titles that they probably wouldn’t give a chance in the theatres. Given the negative reception the film initially received, it’s unlikely that word of mouth played a role in its streaming upscale.

Wrath of the Titans scored a dismal 26% Rotten Tomatoes rating at the time of release. Then again, does the lens of the modern audience discover something the critics didn’t? The audience rated it 49% back in the day. No matter how terrible the movie was to the critics, it was a commercial hit. Additionally, algorithmic suggestions had a role in the rise. But what exactly fed the algorithm?

The film stars Rosamund Pike. Pike was also recently part of the fantasy drama series The Wheel of Time, which was cancelled in March 2025, despite three successful seasons. The cancellation not only left the audience frustrated and taken aback, but also propelled them to petition to save the show. Although the third sequel, Revenge of the Titans, received a similar fate, the film’s momentum was never as monumental as The Wheel of Time. However, it’s possible that viewers are grasping on a showbiz déjà vu, leading them back to the Wrath of the Titans.