Alan Ritchson, known for his roles in the Prime Video series Reacher and Netflix's War Machine, is experiencing a resurgence in popularity with his recent film, Motor City. The 103-minute action thriller, which had a modest theatrical release earlier this year, has found a significantly larger audience since becoming available for digital purchase and streaming.
Despite a box office gross of only $3 million, Motor City quickly climbed the digital charts upon its August release, reaching the top 10 on Prime Video and debuting at number four on Apple TV. The film is now streaming on AMC Plus, where it has become the platform's sixth most popular title, underscoring a preference among viewers for Ritchson's action-heavy performances in a home viewing environment.
Motor City centers on John Miller, a character described as a "working-class romantic" who is framed by a gangster after becoming involved with the wrong woman. Following a prison sentence, Miller returns seeking revenge. The film emphasizes action over dialogue, with reports suggesting it contains only five lines of spoken words. The plot is set in 1970s Detroit, with Miller plotting vengeance against the man who ruined his life and took his love interest.
The film features a cast including Shailene Woodley, Pablo Schreiber, Ben Foster, and Ben McKenzie, with a cameo from Jack White of The White Stripes. It was written by Chad St. John (London Has Fallen, Peppermint) and directed by Potsy Ponciroli (Greedy People, Old Henry).
Director Potsy Ponciroli highlighted an "elevator fight" scene as a particularly impactful moment, noting that the entire audience at a premiere became tense during its viewing. The film's visual storytelling approach has drawn comparisons to dialogue-light action successes like John Wick and Mad Max: Fury Road. Polygon's review praised this method, stating that the film "isn't difficult to follow. It's simply observant," and that director Ponciroli "is asking viewers to engage with film as a visual medium."
While critical reception was mixed, with a 63% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Motor City's performance on streaming and digital platforms indicates strong audience appeal for Ritchson's particular brand of action cinema. The film is available for rental and digital purchase on platforms including Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango.