Despite a disastrous critical reception and a box office performance that failed to recoup its substantial budget, Warner Bros.' 2011 superhero film Green Lantern, starring Ryan Reynolds, has unexpectedly resurfaced as a popular title on HBO Max in the United Kingdom. The film, which aimed to launch a major DC franchise, is currently the number one movie on the streaming service in the UK, according to FlixPatrol, marking a significant turnaround for what was once considered a major Hollywood misfire. Reynolds himself has frequently poked fun at the film over the years, acknowledging its creative shortcomings.
Green Lantern follows Hal Jordan, a cocky test pilot chosen by a dying alien to inherit a powerful ring. This artifact bestows upon him the ability to join the Green Lantern Corps, an intergalactic police force capable of manifesting constructs through sheer willpower. Jordan’s reluctant journey into heroism escalates when the fear-devouring entity Parallax threatens Earth. The film also features Peter Sarsgaard as scientist Hector Hammond, who develops his own dangerous abilities, and a supporting cast including Blake Lively as love interest Carol Ferris, Mark Strong as veteran Green Lantern Sinestro, Angela Bassett as Amanda Waller, and Tim Robbins as Senator Robert Hammond.
The movie was widely criticized for its narrative weaknesses, inconsistent tone, and heavy reliance on CGI, particularly the digital rendering of Jordan’s suit. With a reported production budget of $200 million, its worldwide box office gross of approximately $220 million fell far short of expectations. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes currently give the film a 25% score.
This resurgence in popularity appears to be fueled by the recent premiere of HBO's new series, Lanterns. The series, which debuted in the U.S. and subsequently became available on HBO Max in the UK on August 17, brings the Green Lantern mythology back into the spotlight. The new show stars Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, approaching the characters with a more grounded detective-drama style, as explored in Polygon’s review which lauded it as an "exceptional" superhero detective narrative.
While there is no direct narrative link between the 2011 film and the new HBO series, the timely release of Lanterns has provided a clear incentive for viewers to revisit or discover the 2011 live-action adaptation of Hal Jordan's story. With both projects accessible on HBO Max, audiences may be drawn to re-watching Reynolds' infamous take on the character after experiencing the contemporary series.
