Russell Crowe & Liam Neeson’s $67M Crime Thriller Becomes Global Streaming Hit

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The 2010 crime thriller starring Russell Crowe and Liam Neeson – their one and only on-screen pairing – is now gaining popularity with viewers worldwide. Directed by Paul Haggis, the film features Crowe as John Brennan, a man who must take extreme actions when his wife (Elizabeth Banks) is accused of murder.

Despite not being a major hit in cinemas 15 years ago, the movie The Next Three Days is now gaining popularity on HBO Max. As of October 26th, it’s currently the ninth most-watched movie worldwide on the platform, even beating out How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019).

Despite featuring Olivia Wilde, this crime thriller is currently performing lower than several other popular films, including It (2017), Materialists (2025), Challengers (2024), All Fun and Games (2023), I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025), Superman (2025), The Substance (2024), and, topping the list, Weapons (2025).

Released two years after the hit film Taken (2008), The Next Three Days marked a turning point in Liam Neeson’s career. While Neeson had acted in action films before, Taken was the movie that truly established him as an action star.

As a critic, I have to say The Next Three Days felt like a missed opportunity with Liam Neeson. While he’s fantastic, the film didn’t really use his action hero persona – he’s more of a supporting player as his wife’s rescue plan unfolds. What’s really interesting, though, is that it paired Neeson with Russell Crowe for the very first – and so far, only – time. It’s a surprising one-off pairing we haven’t seen repeated, and that’s a bit of movie history in itself.

Russell Crowe’s 2010 thriller is unexpectedly finding success on streaming platforms, despite a quiet release when it first came out. While it cost around $30 million to make, it only earned $67 million worldwide in theaters. By typical Hollywood standards, that means the film likely didn’t make back its money during its initial theatrical run. However, it may now be profitable thanks to viewers watching it at home.

The movie wasn’t a critical success either. It received a mixed 50% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences gave it a slightly better score of 66%. Many reviews criticized the story and its ending as being unrealistic, but Russell Crowe’s performance was often praised.

Interest in the 2010 film is rising as Russell Crowe prepares for his new World War II movie, Nuremburg. Meanwhile, Liam Neeson recently surprised audiences with a comedic role in the popular The Naked Gun (2025). While The Next Three Days might not be a career highlight for either actor, viewers are clearly enjoying its exciting and quick pace.

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2025-10-26 20:04