Two years after being written off as one of 2023’s biggest streaming flops, Ghosted has pulled off a comeback no one saw coming. The action-rom-com starring Ana de Armas and Chris Evans is now the #6 most-streamed movie on Apple TV. When Ghosted premiered in April 2023, it was met with brutal reviews. The film scored a 25% critics rating and 55% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, with many calling it a missed opportunity despite its star power. Written by Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Chris McKenna, and Erik Sommers — the same team behind Deadpool and Spider-Man: Homecoming — the movie follows Cole (Evans), an unlucky-in-love farmer who discovers his crush, Sadie (de Armas), is a secret agent. What follows is a globe-trotting series of shootouts, betrayals, and banter-heavy chaos.
Despite the lackluster critical reception, the movie is now outperforming several of Apple TV’s more prestigious offerings. Part of the appeal for modern viewers may come from Ghosted’s jaw-dropping supporting cast. The film features Adrien Brody, Amy Sedaris, Tate Donovan, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Mike Moh, and even Ryan Reynolds, who pops in for a tongue-in-cheek cameo. Before de Armas joined, Scarlett Johansson was originally attached to star opposite Evans, but scheduling conflicts forced her out, ending what could’ve been another Marvel reunion for the ages.
So, How Bad Is ‘Ghosted’?
Not every critic dismissed Ghosted outright. Collider’s Nate Richard called the film “far from perfect” but still “irresistibly charming” thanks to Evans and de Armas’ chemistry. He wrote: “Evans and de Armas are charming as ever alongside a rock-solid supporting cast. There are enough laughs and fun action scenes to warrant a recommendation, just don’t expect much more from it.” Still, Richard pointed out the film’s biggest weaknesses — from over-edited dialogue scenes to a two-hour runtime that overstays its welcome. “Even in simple dialogue scenes,” he noted, “it feels over-edited to the point that it just becomes too distracting.”
Fans who missedGhostedthe first time seem to be streaming it out of curiosity — or maybe for the pure comfort of watching two of Hollywood’s most likable leads flirt and bicker their way through chaos. After all, streaming is the perfect place to give something a try that you can just turn off.
And while it’s unlikely Ghosted will ever be considered a critical success, its Top 10 placement shows that timing and star power can sometimes do what reviews cannot: bring a movie back to life.
Ghosted is streaming now on Apple TV.
- Release Date
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April 18, 2023
- Runtime
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117 Minutes
- Writers
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Paul Wernick, Rhett Reese, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers
