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At one level, Will Smith was the most important film star on the earth. Whereas he had a little bit of a PR snafu (to place it flippantly) a few years in the past when he slapped Chris Rock on stage on the Oscars, he is recovered effectively within the eyes of the general public, given the success of this yr’s “Dangerous Boys: Experience or Die” on the field workplace. Margot Robbie, in the meantime, is about as massive as fashionable stars get, along with her rise to stardom culminating in final yr’s mega-hit “Barbie.” So, what occurs once you put these two massive stars in a film collectively? You get a primary hit on Netflix. It simply so occurs that the film in query was made almost a decade in the past.
2015’s “Focus,” directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, not too long ago made its method to Netflix and immediately shot to the highest of the most-watched film charts. As of this writing, the movie is sitting firmly within the primary spot on Netflix, above different motion pictures such because the Netflix authentic “Meet Me Subsequent Christmas” and 2022’s rom-com success “The Misplaced Metropolis.” It is the newest instance of a studio film that had seemingly been forgotten by a lot of most of the people discovering new life on Netflix. It is all the time fascinating to see these motion pictures rise above streaming originals, given the sources that Netflix and different firms pour into their very own tasks.
For many who have not seen it or maybe simply want a refresher, “Focus” facilities on Nicky (Smith), a seasoned grifter who turns into romantically concerned with a novice con artist, Jess (Robbie). As he is instructing her what he is aware of, she will get too shut and he decides to interrupt it off. Three years later, she exhibits up once more as Nicky is in the course of his newest, harmful scheme, throwing the professional con man off his recreation.
Practically a decade later, Focus seems like a giant deal
When this movie hit theaters in 2015, it was a comparatively modest success. Towards a reported $50 million finances, “Focus” pulled in $159 million on the international field workplace. It wasn’t the barn burner that Smith has typically been related to in his profession, which is maybe why it was seen as a so-so success in its day. However a decade later, the concept of an authentic, adult-focused dramedy like this doing that sort of enterprise feels nearly particular. Immediately, all these motion pictures largely fall into three classes:Â They get made for streaming, they fail to seek out their viewers in theaters, or they do not get made in any respect.
It is also an fascinating time capsule of types because it represents a turning level for each of those A-list stars. The next yr, each Smith and Robbie would star alongside each other in David Ayer’s “Suicide Squad,” which pulled in almost $750 million worldwide regardless of incomes fairly horrible evaluations. That is essential as a result of Smith was coming off a little bit of a tough patch in his profession, which included flops like “After Earth” and “Winter’s Story.” He wanted a success, and teaming with Robbie, he acquired two.
As for Robbie, she surprised in a giant approach in Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Road” in 2013, which was simply her second main movie position. “Focus” was her follow-up, and it confirmed that she may maintain her personal alongside a giant star like Smith, simply as she had achieved with Leonardo DiCaprio. That helped arrange a giant run for her that included different hits like “I, Tonya,” “Peter Rabbit,” and “As soon as Upon a Time in Hollywood.” All of it culminated with “Barbie,” which now ranks as one of many largest motion pictures in historical past.
Taking all of that into consideration, it isn’t shocking that audiences are very eager about seeing Smith and Robbie in a film collectively, even when that film is much from new. Given what’s occurred within the years since “Focus” first got here out, it feels far more important than it did on the time.
“Focus” is streaming now on Netflix, or you may seize a duplicate of the film on Blu-ray by way of Amazon.
