Netflix is set to add the Matt Damon and Pedro Pascal monster movie flop, The Great Wall, to its streaming lineup. The 2017 film is set in ancient China and follows the story of mercenaries William Garin and Pero Tova as they venture to the country in search of gunpowder. However, they encounter a massive monster at the Great Wall of China and must join forces with Chinese soldiers to battle the beasts.
The Great Wall had a rough reception at the domestic box office in 2017, earning only $45.1 million during its seven-week run. Despite its lackluster performance in the U.S., the film did manage to attract international audiences, earning $289.3 million at the box office overseas. Combined with its domestic earnings, The Great Wall brought in $334.4 million worldwide against a $150 million budget, resulting in a $75 million loss overall.
Four years after its release, Damon admitted during a podcast interview that the film wasn’t his best career move. He revealed that even his daughter wasn’t a fan of the film, jokingly referring to it as “The Wall” instead of “The Great Wall.” Despite criticisms of cultural appropriation by some, Damon defended the movie, comparing its plot to other popular films like Lawrence of Arabia, Dances With Wolves, and Avatar.
Directed by Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou, The Great Wall also stars Willem Dafoe, Tian Jing, and Andy Lau. The film received a dismal 35% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 238 critic reviews and a tepid 42% positive Audience Score. Despite its poor reception, The Great Wall will begin streaming on Netflix on May 1, giving viewers another chance to watch the action-packed monster movie.
Upon its release in 2017, The Great Wall opened in over 3,000 theaters in the U.S. and earned $18.4 million during its first weekend, landing it in third place behind The Lego Batman Movie and Fifty Shades Darker. The film ultimately ended its run in March 2017 with a total of $45.1 million in domestic ticket sales. While it may not have been a hit with U.S. audiences, The Great Wall managed to fare better internationally, showcasing its appeal to global viewers.
