A film by Robert Downey Jr. 2014 has become the most popular streaming movie in the US today, with Netflix users considering it the “best they’ve ever seen.”
Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall star in the film The Judge, which despite receiving a 49 percent critical rating Rotten tomatoeshas an audience score of 72 percent.
The Academy Award-winning actors play an estranged father and son who are reunited after the death of a family member.
The Judge debuted at number three at the box office during its opening weekend and grossed over 84.4 million during its theatrical run; with its recent release on Netflix it has risen to the top.
Basically one user wrote on X, formerly Twitter, ‘How did I watch the movie ‘The Judge’ with Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall? Regardless of their strained father-son relationship, family is everything and this movie proves it. A must see on Netflix.’
Directed by David Dobkin, the film also stars Vera Farmiga, Billy Bob Thornton and Succession star Jeremy Strong.
(From left to right) Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall star in the 2014 film The Judge, which recently became the top streaming movie on Netflix
Before it reached number one, the 2023 romantic comedy Everyone But You was the most popular streaming movie on Netflix
The Judge was in development stages in the early 2010s before filming began in 2013 in Massachusetts and Indiana.
According to IMDBlegendary actors Jack Nicholson and Tommy Lee Jones were considered for the role of Joseph Palmer.
Nicholson was initially offered the role, but after he declined it eventually went to Duvall.
It is unclear when Downey Jr. was cast as Hank, but he did get to work with his wife and film producer Susan Downey.
Downey Jr. stars Hank Palmer, a successful lawyer who returns to his childhood home in Carlinville, Indiana after the death of his mother.
He reconnects with his brothers Dale (Strong), Glen (Vincent D’Onofrio) and his father Joseph Palmer (Duvall), who is the town judge.
Judge Palmer had a then 17-year-old Hank sent to a juvenile detention center after a car accident that ruined Glen’s chances of becoming an MLB player.
Once a bitter argument arises between Hank and Joseph, the lawyer chooses to leave and never return to Carlinville.
Hank returns to his parental home after he finds out that his father is suspected of fatally hitting an ex-con.
He becomes Joseph’s chief advisor, and as he searches for answers to what happened, he discovers a shocking secret that could change everything.
Downey Jr. stars Hank Palmer, a successful lawyer in Chicago who returns to his hometown after his mother dies. He has an estranged relationship with his father, Judge Joseph Palmer
Vincent D’Onofrio and Jeremy Strong play Dale and Glen Palmer, Hank’s brothers living in their small hometown in Indiana
Downey Jr. was one of the executive producers of The Judge. His wife, Susan Downey, was one of the film’s producers
While not all critics thought it was the best movie they’ve ever seen, a number of them pointed out the positive things about The Judge in their reviews.
“There’s a lot of emotional fireworks in this big, smooth but entertaining film, which is clearly Oscar bait,” wrote The guard film critic Peter Bradshaw in 2014.
“When Hank has to help his old man into the bathroom, in a very heartbreaking scene, the words ‘Academy Award – For Your Consideration’ flash near the bottom right of the screen.”
Bradshaw’s review proved correct when Duvall was nominated for a 2015 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the role of Joseph Palmer.
Duvall did not receive an Oscar, but he did receive a Golden Globe for his portrayal of the judge.
More than 25,000 Rotten Tomato members who contributed to the audience score left more positive comments, many of which included Downey Jr. and praised Duvall.
Later in the film, Duvall is accused of fatally hitting an ex-con he once sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Social media users on X and Rotten Tomatoes have criticized the film and Downey Jr.’s performance. praised
“Great movie with a great story and great acting,” one viewer wrote in April 2024.
“Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall are so good together. Love this movie.’
Another person who watched the film praised Downey Jr., but criticized Duvall based on his own opinion.
“I don’t know why, but personally I have never enjoyed what Robert Duvall brings to the screen and the film should have been 45 minutes shorter and it would have been a much tighter film,” they wrote on Rotten Tomatoes yesterday.
X users were much more positive in their comments, with more than three users praising Downey Jr. and admitted the movie made them cry.
‘I watched The Judge and now I’m juggling very complicated feelings’ an X user tweeted on May 1.
‘The least complicated creature I know of is Robert Downey Jr. can play something else, and I’m a little tired of him playing the same character.”