'Murder Mystery 2' on Netflix: Here's why the first movie took off despite being panned by critics
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: From being a cast member of 'Saturday Night Live' in 1990 to tackling bold roles in great movies, Adam Sandler has come a long way. Despite a slew of not so great movies, he has thrived. Now, Sandler is among Hollywood's most recognizable comedic actors, with acclaimed performances in movies such as 'Hustle' and 'Uncut Gems'.
Upon its release, 'Murder Mystery' was viewed by 73 million households in its first month of release, according to Netflix, making it one of the streaming giant's most-watched movies ever, second only to 'Bird Box'. However, the movie was a critical failure. Here's why 'Murder Mystery' was a success despite being panned by critics.
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Relevance is the key
In today's world, people just want to come home and watch something that does not make sense but evokes a sense of homeliness that comes from from watching movies that feel relatable but goofy at the same time. Sandler has cracked the code of relatability. Even though his movies are most often considered bad, his consistency in making relevant content has been loved by audiences for over 30 years. The idea is to create something that feels like a walk down the memory lane or something warm and familiar. The 'Waterboy' actor loves working with his friends and throughout his career, that element has always been constant. This was evident in 'Murder Mystery', in which he starred alongside his close friend, Jennifer Aniston.
Critics and audiences have two different perspectives
When a movie releases, a critic's job is to scan the movie as a whole and create a narrative that speaks about the movie as a whole and not just one element. On the other hand, what audiences see is the story. If they like it, it's a winner. Sandler seems to have discovered the general idea behind comforting movies, and when relevance and comfort meet, then even a critical failure is still going to be a hit. Though these elements of Sandler's movies are often seen as proof of his apparent laziness, they actually make his films both easy to watch and evidently comforting to many.
Sandler's phenomenal work ethic has made it possible for him to have a constant presence around the world. The constant movie-making might have helped him overcome the negative critical opinions of his work. While the bad movie curse hasn't stopped him from creating movies, he has created an unbreakable legacy based on resilience, persistence and his immense talent.