The Electric State, directed by theRusso Brothers,is the latest in a long list of dull, formulaic action-adventure movies to make its way up the Netflix charts. A watered-down adaptation ofSimon Stålenhag’s 2018 illustrated novel of the same name,The Electric Stateis not only Netflix’s most expensive movie ever, but one of the most expensive movies of all time, with a reportedbudget of $320 million.
Though the budget forThe Electric Staterivals that ofAvengers: Endgame, it pales in comparison in terms of quality, and proves not only that the Russos work betterwithin the confines of the MCU, but thatNetflix seems to prioritize these kinds of lackluster big-budget ventures thatappeal to the widest audience possible while foregoing any real originality or depth.In the algorithmic sense,The Electric Stateis the perfect Netflix movie, featuring familiar story beats, a cast of big-name actors,recognizable needle drops, and is best consumed while scrolling on your phone and only half paying attention.
Netflix’s Most Popular Original Movies Are Far From Original
The Electric Statedidn’t spend very long at the top spot on theNetflix movie charts, with another new addition,Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, taking its place. One might deduce that the film’s terrible reviews and 15% Rotten Tomatoes score may have deterred viewers from pressing play, but history has shown us that when it comes to what’s most popular on Netflix, quality is almost never a factor. It would be unfair to paint all Netflix originals with such a broad brush, as there are definitely some unique and thought-provokingNetflix-produced filmsreleased over the years, likeRoma,The Power of the Dog, andSociety of the Snow, as well as even some of their more lighthearted films, likeHit ManandGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.However, Netflix’s own numbers show that its most popular original content is… not very original at all. Among Netflix’s top 10 list of itsmost popular movies of all timeare some of its mostforgettable action-adventure flicks, likeRed Notice,The Gray Man, andDamsel, that all play directly into the Netflix algorithm for their success.Big budget + big stars + big action = big numbers.
Steven Spielberg’s 2018 Sci-Fi Action Adventure Did What Netflix’s ‘The Electric State’ Failed To
He’s still got the juice!
IfThe Electric Statehad a typical theatrical release, poor reviews may have discouraged moviegoers from actually spending their money to go see it, but you’ve essentially already bought your ticket by subscribing to Netflix. Movies likeThe Electric Stateand the aforementioned Netflix chart-toppers aren’t 100% bad, as they can be ideal for afamily movie nightsince they’re devoid of any serious violence, nudity, and/or foul language. They’re designed to attract as many viewers as possible, butThe Electric Statestands out as a particularly egregious example of the kind of stale adventure movies Netflix prioritizes,serving more as a marketing tool for the platform itself than something worth engaging with in a meaningful way.
‘The Electric State’ Exposes Netflix’s Priorities
For their latest Netflix venture, the Russo brothers put together a ridiculouslystacked ensemble cast. Aside from our two leads, played byMillie Bobby BrownandChris Pratt,The Electric Statealso features a slew of award-winning actors likeKe Huy Quan,Woody Harrelson,Holly Hunter,Giancarlo Esposito, and two recent Oscar nominees inStanley TucciandColman Domingo. With some of Hollywood’s biggest names, a huge budget, some genuinely impressive visual effects, and plenty of ’90s nostalgia bait,The Electric Statewas set up for success, but somehow turned out tragically uninteresting. Brown and Pratt are going through the motions and lack the energy they bring to their most famous roles, while the rest of the cast are clearly there for the check and easy voice-over gig.The Electric Statehas all the ingredients of a movie meant for “casual viewing,” which is sadly Netflix’s top priority.
In 2021, Netflix announced they’d be dropping anew movie every week, before changing their tune in 2023, reducing the number of new releases per year toprioritize quality over quantity. This hasn’t really proven to be the case, however, and we’ve also seen how the prevalence ofsecond-screen viewinghas been increasingly taken into consideration, withThe Electric Stateserving as the perfect example of the kind of movie you can put on in the background while you fold laundry or scroll through social media.We’ll likely see many more projects in the same vein asThe Electric State, but its massive price tag —which surpasses the budget of thelast 10 Best Picture winners combined— makes it stand out among similar Netflix titles as particularly bad, especially considering its source material. Netflix has been throwing hundreds of millions of dollars into mainstream action movies that function more as Netflix advertising than artistic expression.
The Electric State
Michelle, an orphan in a robot-filled alternate 1990s, discovers her brother may still be alive after a mysterious robot visit. Teaming up with a smuggler and his sidekick, she ventures into the Exclusion Zone, only to uncover sinister forces behind her brother’s fate.
