Keanu Reeves' 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' Returns as Streaming Hit 18 Years After Flop

Streaming has been a wonderful invention for movies that critics savaged to the point that audiences were put off. Now, without the need to leave your home to check out a movie you like the sound of but nobody else seemed to care for, what harm is there in sticking it on and seeing what you think? After all, who wouldn't check out a movie with Keanu Reeves arriving on Earth as an emotionless alien, an enormous robot preparing to eradicate humanity and, apparently, nearly 18 years for audiences to decide it might be worth another look.

The Day the Earth Stood Still has suddenly exploded back onto the U.S. streaming charts. The 2008 sci-fi remake recently surged a massive 4,764 positions on JustWatch's Daily Streaming Charts, reaching No. 169 among movies in the United States. JustWatch identified it as one of the week's biggest streaming spikes.

Directed by Scott Derrickson (The Black Phone), the movie stars Reeves as Klaatu, an alien whose arrival on our planet triggers a global upheaval. As governments and scientists race to unravel the mystery behind the visitor's appearance, a woman and her young stepson Jacob get caught up in his mission, and come to understand the ramifications of his being a self-described "friend to the Earth".

Jennifer Connelly (Top Gun: Maverick) stars alongside Reeves as Helen Benson, with Jaden Smith (The Karate Kid) as Jacob Benson, Jon Hamm (Mad Men) as Michael Granier, Kathy Bates (Misery) as Regina Jackson, John Cleese (Monty Python) as Professor Barnhardt, Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) as John Driscoll, and James Hong (Everything Everywhere All at Once) as Mr. Wu.

How Good Is 'The Day the Earth Stood Still'?

Well, as we said, critics didn't exactly see eye to eye with it. The Day the Earth Stood Still holds just 21% on Rotten Tomatoes, with most just simply asking why anyone would bother remaking Robert Wise's celebrated 1951 original. Even still, audiences showed up in theaters, and it earned approximately $233 million worldwide. As for why the movie is experiencing a resurgence? Who knows, but everyone loves Keanu and everyone loves sci-fi. Sometimes that's all it takes.

The Day the Earth Stood Still is currently available through AMC, Philo and Fubo in the United States.