The 'sensational' Suicide Squad movie soars up Netflix chart
Despite mixed reviews, David Ayer's Suicide Squad surprisingly climbs Netflix's top 10 chart, showcasing its enduring popularity among viewers
Two Suicide Squad films exist, with the less acclaimed one currently ranking in Netflix's top 10. Though the DCEU has not seen the same level of success as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there was high anticipation for David Ayer's Suicide Squad.
The initial trailer from Comic-Con created a buzz and appeared to offer a dark, gritty action film with a star-studded cast and a compelling new portrayal of the Joker by Jared Leto. However, the actual movie was a disappointment, as it was heavily edited to mimic the tone of Deadpool and lost its original appeal.
Five years later, before his takeover and rebirth of DC, James Gunn attempted to redeem the villainous super-team with The Suicide Squad, which was well-received as a successful remake. Both movies are available on Netflix, but only one is currently ranked in the top 10.
David Ayer’s Suicide Squad climbs Netflix top 10 chart
The first Suicide Squad movie is at number six on the Netflix top 10 movies chart, having climbed two places in the past day. You can check out the full chart below:
The Super Mario Bros Movie
Family Switch
Leo
Hunter Killer
Lucy
Suicide Squad
The Meg
The Silencing
May December
She’s the Man
In 2016, Suicide Squad brought in a global box office revenue of $747 million, despite receiving a low Rotten Tomatoes score of 26%. On the other hand, The Suicide Squad of 2021 soared to a 90% score, but its box office earnings were much lower at only $168 million. This significant difference can be attributed to the impact of global restrictions on movie theaters.
Ayer has been vocal about his challenges with Suicide Squad, but he has also advocated for the release of his version of the movie, which includes significant differences such as the first 40 minutes being drastically altered, additional scenes featuring Jared Leto's Joker, and unreleased tracks from the original score.
In a recent interview with Total Film, he was asked about the possibility of his cut being released, especially with Gunn leading DC Studios. "I believe so. I choose to remain optimistic. There are individuals who are committed to specific storylines and may not want it to be made public," he stated.
"There is a significant political resistance to it, because if the cut were to be made public, it would expose the cowardice and overall mistreatment of the film and its actors. Once people see the movie, the narrative of how the actors' hard work was taken away will become more apparent. However, it is inevitable. Something is going to happen. Something will be revealed. The truth always comes out."
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Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about the "sensational" Suicide Squad movie soaring up the Netflix chart. On the one hand, I can understand why it might appeal to some viewers. The star-studded cast, the dark and gritty action, and the compelling portrayal of the Joker by Jared Leto are all undeniably appealing. However, I also agree with the critics who found the movie to be a disappointment. The editing was choppy, the plot was disjointed, and the overall tone was just too chaotic.
I think the fact that the first Suicide Squad movie is currently ranked in Netflix's top 10 while the second one is not is a testament to the power of nostalgia. Many people who grew up with the original comics or the animated series may be drawn to the first movie simply because it's familiar. However, I believe that the second movie is the superior film in every way. It's more cohesive, better acted, and more entertaining. I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it yet.
