‘Pain Hustlers’ with Emily Blunt and Chris Evans Tops Netflix, while Three Other Movies Were #1 on VOD

Tom Brueggemann
·4 min read
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What’s the top film on VOD this week? Actually, there are three different #1s on iTunes, Google Play, and Vudu. And what makes it weirder is those films don’t rank as high as #2 anywhere they don’t top.

“Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning: Part One” (Paramount), “The Equalizer 3” (Sony), and “The Exorcist: Believer” (Universal), all $19.99 (“Mission” to buy, the others to rent) are #1 at iTunes, Google Play, and Vudu respectively. To confuse things even more, three other different films rank #2 — “Barbie” (Warner Bros.), “Saw X” (Lionsgate), and “Talk to Me” (A24). That’s six different titles total ranking in the top two of the three lists. That’s unprecedented.

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It’s the third week out for “Mission,” and though it clearly is getting revenue, it is not nearly the dominant force it might have been had it been released 60, not 90, days after hitting theaters. As always, without actual numbers but only rankings to analyze, it’s uncertain. But for “Equalizer” released sooner on VOD than “Mission” to return to #1 on one chart, and having the best overall placement with two #3 rankings, seems to suggest the moment for “Mission,” if not passed, has receded.

“No Hard Feelings,” continuing Sony’s recent films’ early Netflix streaming was knocked out of the #1 spot after a week (and right before their “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” debut this week) by “Pain Hustlers.” The Netflix original Emily Blunt/Chris Evans pharmaceutical industry expose story, which was premiered at Toronto, clearly benefited from star power which elevates otherwise mediocre (in this case 44 Metacritic score) in-house movies.

Five of the six films that placed first or second made all charts (“Talk to Me,” now priced at $5.99, isn’t on Vudu with their revenue, not transaction-based, calculations). “Exorcist,” which Universal released 18 days after it opened, was one of two new entries. Their move-up a week to avoid Taylor Swift had the side benefit of getting it out for home viewing a week before Halloween.

"The Royal Hotel"
“The Royal Hotel” Neon

Also new (#5 at iTunes) is “The Royal Hotel” from Kitty Green (“The Assistant”), again with Julia Garner. The Australian backpacker thriller grossed under $800,000 in nationwide release, then came out on VOD for $6.99, not PVOD price, after only 18 days as well.

With all the talk about top directors making movies for streaming, somehow David Yates’ involvement with “Pain Hustlers” has flown under the radar. His films since 2007 (the last four “Harry Potter” and all “Fantastic Beasts” entries) have grossed, unadjusted, around $7 billion worldwide. That’s more than all the films directed by Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott, Bradley Cooper, David Fincher, and Ben Affleck (similarly also backed by streamers this year) have grossed in that period combined. This film won’t help his personal brand, such as it is.

Among other Netflix originals, “Old Dads” fell to #6, with new entries “Sister Death” from Spain #7 and “Burning Desire” from Brazil #9.

iTunes and Google Play rank films daily by number of transactions. These are the listings for Monday, October 30. Distributors listed are current rights owners. Prices for all titles are for lowest for either rental or download.

iTunes

1. Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning: Part One (Paramount) – $19.99

2. Barbie (WB) – $19.99

3. The Equalizer 3 (Sony) – $19.99

4. Talk to Me (A24) – $5.99

5. The Royal Hotel (Neon) – $6.99

6. The Exorcist: Believer (Universal) – $19.99

7. Saw X (Lionsgate) – $19.99

8. Gran Turismo (Sony) – $14.99

9. The Retirement Plan (Falling Forward) – $5.99

10. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Sony) – $5.99

Google Play

1. The Equalizer II (Sony) – $19.99

2. Talk to Me (A24) – $4.99

3. Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning: Part One (Paramount) – $19.99

4. Barbie (WB) – $19.99

5. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Sony) – $5.99

6. Saw X (Lionsgate) – $19.99

7. The Exorcist: Believer (Universal) – $19.99

8. Blue Beetle (WB) – $19.99

9. Gran Torino (Sony) – $14.99

10. The Nun II (WB) – $19.99

Vudu

Vudu ranks by revenue, not transactions, elevating premium VOD titles. This list covers October 23-29.

1. The Exorcist: Believer (Universal) – $19.99

2. Saw X (Lionsgate) – $19.99

3. The Equalizer 3 (Sony) – $19.99

4. Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning: Part One (Paramount) – $19.99

5. Barbie (WB) – $19.99

6. The Expendables 4 (Lionsgate) – $19.99

7. Meg 2: The Trench (WB) – $5.99

8. Blue Beetle (WB) – $19.99

9. Haunted Mansion (Disney) – $19.99

10. The Nun II (WB) – $19.99

Netflix Movies

Most viewed, current ranking on Netflix’s daily chart on Monday, October 30. 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. Pain Hustlers (Netflix original)

2. No Hard Feelings (2023 theatrical release)

3. Minions (2015 theatrical release)

4. Knights of the Zodiac (2023 theatrical release)

5. The Kill Team (2019 theatrical release)

6. Old Dads (Netflix original)

7. Sister Death (Netflix Spanish original)

8. Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015 theatrical release)

9. Burning Betrayal (Netflix Brazilian original)

10. Casper (1995 theatrical release)

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