‘The Creator’ Gets Another Lease on Life: It’s the Top New Release Available on VOD

It was nice while it lasted: David Fincher’s “The Killer” opened to #1 on the Netflix Top 10 last week and it’s now #3. Another high-profile Netflix Original took its place with Mary Lambert’s “Best. Christmas. Ever!” Trivia ensues: Much earlier in their careers, Fincher and Lambert each directed high-profile Madonna videos (“Vogue” and “Like a Prayer,” respectively).

We’re still waiting on the PVOD releases of October titles “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” “Five Nights at Freddy’s” (already streaming on Peacock), and “Killers of the Flower Moon” (soon to be streaming on Apple TV+). That left a sweet spot for Disney to debut Gareth Edwards’ “The Creator” at $19.99 — a rare film that’s not part of a franchise, and budgeted under $100 million.

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The sci-fi thriller was a modest box office performer (just over $100 million worldwide), so its post-theatrical earnings are critical for potential profit. It is #1 at Vudu, which ranks by revenue. It was #1 during the week at iTunes, currently #3. Google Play has it second.

Eleven films share the three top 10 lists, with three different films at #1. “Barbie” is #1 at iTunes and “The Equalizer 3” is #1 at Google Play. Both reduced their prices to $5.99.

Nine films total made all three charts, including the annual return of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (last year it placed on lists for seven weeks), “The Last Days of the Demeter” (Universal), which also dropped its price, and “Sound of Freedom” (Angel).

Netflix’s “The Killer” and “Best. Christmas. Ever.!” represent the two sides of the streamer’s #1 movies. Fincher’s is the high-profile, review-driven festival player; Lambert’s is a standard-issue, 82-minute Netflix comedy about an awkward Christmas reunion starring late-1990s breakouts Heather Graham, Brandy Norwood, and Jason Biggs. (Credits for co-writer Charles Shyer go back to “Private Benjamin.”) It’s reasonable to believe that “The Killer” cost well over 10x compared to “Ever!” but which will drive more value for the streamer?

Another Netflix Original, the festival-premiered “Rustin,” briefly appeared on the list over the weekend as #9. Focus Features’ 2019 “Harriet,” another biopic about a key figure in the emancipation and civil rights movements, is doing much better at #4. Soon to come at Netflix are higher-profile prime awards releases from Todd Haynes (“May December”) and Bradley Cooper (“Maestro”).

iTunes and Google Play rank films daily by number of transactions. These are the listings for Monday, November 20. Distributors listed are current rights owners. Prices for all titles are for lowest for either rental or download.

iTunes

1. Barbie (WB) – $5.99

2. The Equalizer 3 (Sony) – $5.99

3. The Creator (Disney) – $19.99

4. Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning: Part One (Paramount) – $5.99

5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Universal) – $3.99

6. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Paramount) – $5.99

7. Gran Turismo (Sony) – $5.99

8. The Last Voyage of the Demeter (Universal) – $5.99

9. Sound of Freedom (Angel) – $19.99

10. Blue Beetle (Warner Bros.) – $5.99

Google Play

1. The Equalizer 3 (Sony) – $5.99

2. The Creator (Disney) – $19.99

3. Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning: Part One (Paramount) – $5.99

4. Barbie (WB) – $5.99

5. Gran Turismo (Sony) – $5.99

6. Blue Beetle (WB) – $5.99

7. Sound of Freedom (Angel) – $19.99

8. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Universal) – $3.99

9. The Last Voyage of the Demeter (Universal) – $5.99

10. Talk to Me (A24) – $4.99

Vudu

Vudu ranks by revenue, not transactions, elevating premium VOD titles. This list covers November 13-19.

1. The Creator (Disney) – $19.99

2. Barbie (WB) – $5.99

3. The Equalizer 3 (Sony) – $5.99

4. Sound of Freedom (Angel) – $19.99

5. The Last Voyage of the Demeter (Universal) – $5.99

6. Blue Beetle (Warner Bros.) – $5.99

7. Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning: Part One (Paramount) – $5.99

8. Gran Turismo (Sony) – $5.99

9. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Universal) – $3.99

10. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Disney) – $5.99

Netflix Movies

Most viewed, current ranking on Netflix’s daily chart on Monday, November 20. Originals include both Netflix-produced and acquired titles it initially presents in the U.S. Netflix publishes its own weekly top 10 on Tuesdays based on time viewed.

1. Best. Christmas. Ever. (2023 Netflix original)

2. Lone Survivor (2013 theatrical release)

3. The Killer (2023 Netflix original)

4. Harriet (2019 theatrical release)

5. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023 theatrical release)

6. Minions (2015 theatrical release)

7. No Hard Feelings (2023 theatrical release)

8. Downsizing (2017 theatrical release)

9. See You on Venus (2023 theatrical release)

10. Nice Girl Like You (2020 theatrical release)

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