Bruce Willis Action Thriller That Faced Major Production Troubles Is A Netflix Streaming Hit 33 Years Later

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A classic Bruce Willis action movie, despite a difficult production history, is now finding a large audience as a popular streaming title on Netflix, over three decades after its release.

Bruce Willis was a major action star in Hollywood, appearing in over 100 films before retiring in 2022. He became particularly well-known for playing John McClane in the Die Hard series (1988–2013). Throughout the 1990s, he starred in other popular action movies like The Last Boy Scout (1991), The Fifth Element (1997), and Armageddon (1998). Recently, a less famous action film he appeared in has become quite popular on streaming services.

Striking Distance Is A Netflix Streaming Hit 33 Years Later

Released in 1993, the action thriller Striking Distance is unexpectedly popular on Netflix today. Directed by Rowdy Herrington, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Marty Kaplan, the film features Bruce Willis as a Pittsburgh detective investigating a serial killer. The case forces him to deal with both corruption within the police force and the unresolved mystery of his father’s murder.

After 33 years, the film Striking Distance is currently the most popular movie on Netflix worldwide, as of today, April 9th. It’s beating out other titles like Eat Pray Bark, Humint, The Truth and Tragedy of Moriah Wilson, the 2025 version of Anaconda, Let Him Go, Feel My Voice, Untold: Chess Mates, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, and The Marksman.

This week, the movie Striking Distance is a Top 10 hit on Netflix in 67 countries around the world, including those in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. While it’s not currently on Netflix in the U.S., you can watch Striking Distance for free on Pluto TV.

The film stars Bruce Willis, along with a talented supporting cast including Emmy winners Sarah Jessica Parker (known from Sex and the City), Timothy Busfield (Thirtysomething), and Andre Braugher (Homicide: Life on the Street, Thief), as well as Emmy nominees Robert Pastorelli (Murphy Brown) and John Mahoney (Frasier). Dennis Farina, Tom Sizemore, Brion James, and Tom Atkins also appear in the movie.

I have to admit, Striking Distance didn’t really hit the mark with most critics. It only scored a 20% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a lot of people considered it one of Bruce Willis’ less impressive action movies from the nineties. They said the story felt too predictable and the performances weren’t particularly memorable. Even Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times… well, let’s just say he wasn’t thrilled.

Striking Distance feels like a collection of familiar ideas from other, similar action movies – it doesn’t offer much that’s new or original.

Despite earning $77 million worldwide – more than double its $30 million production cost – the film Striking Distance isn’t very popular with viewers, as reflected in its 35% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Striking Distance’s Production Troubles Explained

The action thriller Striking Distance faced difficulties during its production at Sony, which was already experiencing leadership instability. Initial test screenings showed audiences were confused by the original version, so the studio demanded extensive reshoots in Los Angeles. These reshoots involved rewriting scenes, speeding up the plot, and adding more sexual content to the romantic elements. As a result, the film’s release date was pushed back from May to September. During this stressful time, disagreements arose between star Bruce Willis and director Rowdy Herrington. Ultimately, Striking Distance only managed to earn back its production costs, failing to become a financial success.

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2026-04-10 03:41