Unbelievable: Chess-Inspired Indie Film Made on $44,000 Budget Takes Netflix by Storm, Claims Spot in Top 5 Charts!

Summary

Surprisingly, the drama movie Life of a King has become a Netflix success, ranking in the top 5 worldwide charts and receiving 6.3 million views.

Despite its underwhelming performance in theaters, the film managed to generate interest in 20 various nations via Netflix, notably in Brazil and Mexico.

The flourishing streaming success of Life of a King and other independent endeavors on Netflix exemplifies the platform's ability to spotlight lesser-known films.

The 2013 drama film Life of a King, starring Cuba Gooding Jr., unexpectedly achieved success on Netflix. Based on a true story, the movie follows Eugene Brown, a former felon, as he establishes a chess club in Washington D.C. to help inner-city kids stay away from trouble. The cast includes Dennis Haysbert, LisaGay Hamilton, and Malcolm Mays.

To everyone's surprise, Life of a King gained popularity on Netflix and ranked in the top 5 worldwide for the week of October 2–October 8. According to Netflix's latest update, the drama secured the fourth spot on the worldwide top 10 list, sandwiched between Love is in the Air (No. 3) and Infinite (No. 5). The streamer reported that Life of a King garnered 6.3 million views. Topping the global top 10 list this week were Fair Play and Reptile.

Life Of A King's Netflix Success Is Not Unusual

Life of a King's inclusion in the Netflix global top 10 is quite surprising, considering its limited theatrical release and low box office earnings. The movie only made $44,000 in total, with a mere $6,547 coming from domestic screenings. What's more, Life of a King is a decade-old film, and its director is currently not involved in any new projects. It's therefore unexpected that the movie has experienced a resurgence in popularity through streaming.

Despite not being among Gooding Jr.'s highest-rated works, Life of a King managed to make it into the global top 10 on Netflix in 20 different countries. This includes both smaller nations such as Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas, as well as larger subscriber bases in Brazil and Mexico. It is quite unusual for a project with a budget of $44,000 to gain such attention, but it seems that the movie's narrative based on true events may have contributed to its appeal.

Netflix has experienced unexpected comebacks this year, with TV series Suits enjoying unprecedented streaming success alongside the film Life of a King. This could potentially benefit independent production teams and movies like Life of a King, as they receive more recognition through the opportunity of a Netflix revival.