The most popular film in Netflix this week was viewed more than 21 million times as the streaming platform revealed Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver is on the rise.
Despite mixed reviews from critics for the sequel, as well as the first Rebel Moon film in the series – A Child of Fire – which was released in December, it doesn't appear to have hurt ratings.
Zack Snyder's Star Wars-inspired space opera follows Kora (Sofia Boutella), a former Imperium soldier living in a peaceful settlement on the edge of a distant moon, who finds herself threatened by a tyrannical ruling force – who she is hiding.
According to the Netflix website HillRebel Moon 2 is comfortably ahead in this week's global top 10 after less than a week on the streaming platform, with 21,400,000 views of the film recorded internationally.
This is easily extrapolated from the film's 44.2 million viewing hours, with a running time of two hours and four minutes.
Even more impressive is that the data was collected in the week between April 15th and 21st.
Given that The Scargiver was released last Friday, April 19th, it shot straight to the top and over 20 million views in just three days of release.
In second place is the animated film Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp with an impressive 18,800,000 views, while other films on Netflix's streaming chart include the crime documentary What Jennifer Did, the 2019 thriller Anna with Sasha Luss, Cillian Murphy and Luke Evans, Hotel Transylvania and Millie Bobby Brown's dragon film, Damsel.
Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire is also in fifth place, no doubt boosted by the release of the sequel, with a further 5.5 million views.
There are almost 27 million views for fimmaker Snyder in just six days on the platform.
In a recent interview with Metro.co.ukSnyder acknowledged his polarizing reputation as a director and the intense debate that his films — which also include 300, Sucker Punch and Justice League — seem to spark.
'The reactions to my films tend to be really big… overreactions,' he commented.
'We were just talking [with] Rebel Moon – Part One. I think, it's not that controversial a film,” he adds of the criticism that has filled columns and social media forums over the past year.
“A lot of people have this crazy reaction to it. And I’m like, “I don’t get it! I don’t understand this reaction.” So, yeah, I just think in the zeitgeist, I just found this weird place, you know, and it is what it is. I'm not mad about it, but it is what it is.
For a filmmaker who has ardent fans, however, they – and likely Netflix, given this news – will be looking forward to the “more violent and insane” R-rated director's versions that Synder teased later this summer.
It also has Rebel Moon 3 apparently almost written, as well as room for more from the franchise – although nothing is yet confirmed.
Once they have “a complete picture” of how the franchise has performed with fans, this being a first taste of that, “we are absolutely prepared to make more of these films,” he promises.
“From a story perspective, there's a lot more to do,” he also shared, suggesting this could extend beyond Rebel Moon 4, and perhaps even further.
'We were talking about if you did another Rebel Moon movie, audiences would say, “Well, don't we have two? Because I think we always – it seems like we should always have two of these movies? Whenever you make a film there must be two, because if not, are we going to make one? Will you go back to one? That's weird.' So that's the kind of thing we're talking about!'
Rebel Moon Part One and Two are both streaming on Netflix now.
Do you have a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or visiting us Send stuff – we love hearing from you.
