Russell Crowe is dominating the streaming conversation once again, but this time, fans are rediscovering a controversial movie from more than a decade ago.
Crowe stars in Noah, Darren Aronofsky’s ambitious biblical epic that divided audiences when it hit theaters in 2014. Now, the film is enjoying a surprising second life on streaming, climbing into the HBO Max Top 10 in several countries.
The movie puts Crowe in the role of Noah, the man chosen by God to build an enormous ark and save humanity and the animals from a devastating flood. Jennifer Connelly and Emma Watson also appear in the star-studded cast.
Despite its massive scale, Noah became one of those movies that audiences simply could not agree on.
Critics were considerably kinder, giving the film a strong 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earning it a Certified Fresh designation. Audiences, however, were far less impressed, with the movie receiving a brutal 41% score.
That massive divide did not stop Noah from becoming a financial success.
Made with a reported $125 million budget, the film ultimately earned more than $350 million worldwide. What initially looked like a risky experiment from Aronofsky ended up delivering a healthy theatrical return.
Now, years later, streaming audiences appear to be giving the movie another chance.
And there is plenty of reason to revisit it.
Aronofsky co-wrote and directed Noah with Ari Handel, bringing his unmistakably dramatic filmmaking style to one of the most famous stories in the Bible. The result was far from a traditional religious movie, which may explain why audiences were so sharply divided.
But Noah is only one part of what comes next for Crowe.
The Oscar-winning actor is also preparing for a major role in the upcoming Highlander reboot, directed by John Wick filmmaker Chad Stahelski.
Henry Cavill is set to lead the reboot, while Crowe is joining the cast as the franchise moves toward production after previous delays. The project was reportedly pushed back after Cavill suffered an injury while training for the demanding role.
For Crowe, the future is clearly packed with major projects.
But for now, an unexpected chapter of his past is getting the spotlight.
Noah may have been dismissed by some audiences when it first arrived in theaters, but its streaming resurgence suggests the conversation is far from over.
Sometimes, a movie simply needs a second chance.
And it looks like Noah is finally getting one.
Unexpected Team-Up: Prince William and Emma Watson Unite for Change
Prince William had plenty to celebrate this weekend, but his latest public appearance quickly turned heads for a very different reason. After marking his 44th birthday and Father's Day with his family, the future king returned to royal duties—and made a surprisingly personal confession about the emotional toll of climate change.
William joined Hollywood stars Emma Watson and Benedict Cumberbatch at a United for Wildlife forum in London, an initiative he launched with the Royal Foundation in 2013. The organization works around the world to combat wildlife trafficking, environmental crime, and the destruction of endangered species.
But it was William's candid admission about his own fears that stole the spotlight.
The Prince of Wales revealed that climate change has caused him "sleepless nights," admitting he has struggled with anxiety about what the future could look like. Yet instead of allowing those fears to overwhelm him, William said seeing real progress through conservation efforts has helped keep his environmental anxiety under control.
He also delivered a powerful message to business leaders, urging them to become the kind of leaders they admired when they were children. With technology and innovation transforming the world at an incredible pace, William challenged CEOs to use their influence to create meaningful change.
The event launched London Climate Action Week, with more royal appearances expected, including the Earthshot Prize assembly.
Emma Watson also delivered a surprising revelation of her own. The Harry Potter star highlighted the fashion industry's enormous environmental impact, pointing out that it produces more emissions than aviation and ranks behind only oil among major polluting industries.
Watson, who is also pursuing a doctorate in philosophy at Oxford, shared a hilarious story about mistakenly believing paparazzi were following her. After spotting photographers with telephoto lenses, she arranged a distraction and escaped through another exit. The twist? They weren't photographing her at all. They were waiting to capture a red kite.
Meanwhile, Benedict Cumberbatch praised William as "a great guy" and urged businesses and individuals to recognize that they can still make a difference, even when global environmental challenges appear overwhelming.
With William, Watson, and Cumberbatch joining forces on the issue, the London forum delivered a clear message: the fight against environmental destruction is becoming impossible for the world's biggest names to ignore.
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