An 18% RT Action Flick Is Getting a Second Chance 7 Months After Flopping Hard in Theaters

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Streaming services have allowed many overlooked movies to find an audience. Several films that weren’t successful in theaters originally have become popular years later. Usually, these are older titles, but there’s been one recent exception. The 2025 film, starring Ke Huy Quan as an action hero, has found a new life on digital platforms after initially performing poorly.

Lover Hurts came out just before Valentine’s Day and was promoted as a funny action-romance. But, the story-about a hitman trying to start a new life as a real estate agent while keeping his dangerous past secret-might not have been what audiences expected. Love Hurts didn’t do well when it was first released earlier this year, but surprisingly, the 2025 film gained a lot of viewers online seven months later after becoming available for streaming.

Love Hurts Flopped In Theaters

Despite featuring and Ariana DeBose, the 2025 movie was a box office failure, earning only $17.5 million compared to its $18 million production cost. Critics also reacted poorly, with most viewers expressing criticism instead of praise. This resulted in a low 18% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Many critics found the 2025 action movie, which was promoted as similar to Nobody, to be underwhelming due to unbelievable characters and a weak script. Interestingly, even the sequel to the highly-regarded Nobody didn’t achieve the same level of success. Quan’s action film was considered lackluster by many, leading audiences to avoid it in theaters. However, when it became available on Prime Video, its fortunes began to change.

The movie has not only performed well on Video-on-Demand platforms, but it’s also become a streaming success after being added to the Prime Video subscription. It quickly climbed the charts, landing in the Top 10 most popular movies in several countries, suggesting that audiences are discovering Quan’s action rom-com while watching at home. While reactions are still somewhat divided, most viewers seem to be enjoying the film, with some even giving it a perfect five-star rating and championing it as an overlooked gem. Fans praised the movie’s humor and exciting fight sequences. However, those who wouldn’t recommend it felt that Love Hurts appears low-budget with a predictable storyline and action scenes that overly imitate Kingsman. Despite the differing opinions, the movie is clearly resonating with an audience, and it appears that individual expectations heavily influence how people experience it.

Love Hurts Is Both An Action Movie And A Romantic Comedy

I have to say, action and romantic comedy rarely mix well, especially when there’s a lot of fighting! But Love Hurts really tried something different, and honestly, it’s just meant to be fun. I think a lot of people missed that when it first came out, trying to judge it as an action movie instead. To me, Quan’s character, Marvin, is the most compelling and hilariously unlucky person in Love Hurts. He’s a former hitman who tried to go straight and become a realtor, but that didn’t exactly work out when an ex decided to make his life miserable over how things ended. What I found especially cool was how Marvin gets tangled up with his brother and his secret connection to a Chinese gang – it’s a really unique and complicated twist for a rom-com, and every new thing we learn about him is a total surprise!

What really struck me about this film is how they developed Marvin. He’s instantly likable and someone you genuinely connect with, and seeing him rediscover his former self adds a fantastic layer to the action. The fight choreography isn’t just louder or longer – it actually *evolves* throughout the movie, becoming more intricate and gripping. While the romance between Marvin and Rose doesn’t quite give you a strong emotional pull, watching Ke Huy Quan back in action is a treat in itself. Many Marvel fans will remember him as O.B. from the Phase Four series Loki, and indie film buffs might recognize him from that award-winning A24 multiverse movie. But before Hollywood stardom, Quan was already an action veteran, appearing in classics like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and The Goonies. It’s no surprise he was cast in this martial arts role – he *holds* a black belt in Taekwondo! It’s a shame his opportunity to really lead an action film didn’t land until that 2025 flop, but this movie proves he absolutely has the skills.

The movie star was a huge fan of Hong Kong action films growing up in the ’80s, and that inspired him to perform all his own stunts. In an interview with , Quan shared the one requirement he had for taking on the role. “One of the things we agreed on when I joined the project was that I love the action movies from Hong Kong in the 80s…there’s something truly special about seeing the actors do the fight scenes themselves, instead of using a stunt double,” he explained. “So I told them, ‘If I’m going to do this, I want to perform all the fights myself – every punch and every kick.'” Quan underwent significant training to prepare for the role, which resulted in incredibly realistic action sequences. During the interview, the actor also mentioned that, considering his age, he might not take on another action movie that’s as physically challenging as Love Hurts. The movie currently has a 63% audience score on RT, suggesting it’s better than initial reviews suggested. The fact that people are still discovering it just seven months after its release shows it deserves another look.

Is Love Hurts Worth Watching?

Love Hurts explores a situation many people can connect with – something you usually see more in comedies than action movies. This 2025 action rom-com has a realistic story where Marvin is forced to deal with his past, and the actor chosen is a great fit for the part. Marvin isn’t simply battling his brother; he’s facing a side of himself he’s grown apart from, even if it requires revisiting old patterns. Love Hurts includes plenty of action, but at its heart, it’s about personal growth and standing up for your beliefs. The movie is likely to be funny and straightforward, unlike complex blockbusters, but it’s based on everyday struggles that viewers will find relatable. Love Hurts isn’t aiming to be a revolutionary action film. Instead, it’s a unique mix of romantic comedy and action. It might not offer anything incredibly new or ambitious, but it still delivers a compelling narrative.

It’s also important to note that Love Hurts isn’t an action thriller, which explains some of the criticism it received. As a romantic comedy, you can expect some unlikely events and plenty of heartfelt moments. Rather than expecting a thriller, it’s better to view the movie as a comedy with exciting action sequences, which is what most positive reviews highlight. In an interview with , director Jonathan Eusebio explained the movie’s genre and what initially attracted him to the project, emphasizing its unusual combination of action and humor. He shared, “I was receiving many scripts, mostly similar to John Wick – stories about hitmen trying to escape the life – but I also wanted a film with more heart and humor, something a little different. When I read this script, I thought, ‘This is perfect! I can have a strong, unique character, interesting supporting characters, and still have exciting action.'” Love Hurts might initially appear to be an unsuccessful try at a John Wick-style action movie, but it took a different approach. When compared to Liam Neeson’s The Naked Gun, which succeeded due to its blend of humor and action, this action rom-com features more action than comedy, and ultimately delivers a touching message.

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2025-10-03 19:49