Russell Crowe’s ‘Unhinged’ Surges on Tubi, Finds New Fans

Russell Crowe’s 2020 action-packed revenge flick, Unhinged, has roared back into the spotlight, landing a spot in Tubi’s free streaming Top 10. The film, which had largely slipped under the radar after its original release, is now grabbing the attention of a new crowd, keen to see Crowe in a rare villainous role. With action films always pulling a solid audience on Tubi, this one’s no exception, especially as it showcases Crowe in a performance that many missed the first time around.

Unhinged hit cinemas in August 2020, right in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic. While most theatres were still shut and other studios were holding back or sending their releases straight to streaming, Solstice Studios took a punt and put Unhinged on the big screen. The gamble paid off to a degree, with the film pulling in $44 million worldwide against a $33 million budget. Critics weren’t exactly bowled over, though. The film sits at a 48% “rotten” score on the Tomatometer. Crowe’s turn as the antagonist got a nod, but the rest of the cast and the story didn’t get much love. Variety called it

“a pulpy genre exercise that is, at times, too brutal for its own good,”

while The Hollywood Reporter praised Crowe’s unsettling performance but took a swipe at the

“thin” plot.

Still, punters seemed to enjoy it more than the critics, with a 77% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, showing a clear split between the reviewers and the folks buying tickets.

Plot and Performance

At its core, Unhinged is a classic game of cat and mouse. Crowe plays Tom Cooper, a bloke who becomes dangerously obsessed with single mum Rachel, played by Caren Pistorius, after a heated moment at the lights. What starts as a minor spat quickly spirals into a relentless chase, as Cooper’s grip on reality slips and Rachel finds herself in a nightmare she never saw coming.

Since making its way onto Tubi in the US, the film has found a fresh audience. Despite the mixed bag of reviews from critics, viewers have been drawn to its high-octane, boundary-pushing action, not unlike what you’d expect from a Jason Statham or Tom Cruise flick. Crowe’s performance, in particular, has been singled out for its intensity and believability, making the film stand out in a crowded genre.

Real-World Resonance

What really sets Unhinged apart is how close to home it hits. The story taps into the all-too-familiar reality of road rage, something Aussies and folks everywhere see on social media or even on their daily commute. Crowe’s portrayal of a man nursing a petty grudge feels uncomfortably real, blurring the lines between action and horror. It’s the sort of film that might make you think twice before leaning on the horn at the next set of lights.