Director Ridley Scott is not known for making small-scale films. His sci-fi films, like Blade Runner and the Alien franchise, remain staples within the genre, along with being some of his most well-known works. It is not just science fiction that he’s known for, though: Scott also has a proven track record with historical epics, like the 2000 film Gladiator and its 2024 sequel, Gladiator II.
Not all epics are made equal, however, and one particular epic didn’t see much success until was released on streaming platforms in 2024.
2023’s Napoleon can be best described as a sprawling epic of pageantry. When first released in theaters, it was largely considered a box office disappointment. Though it fared slightly better overseas, in the United States and Canada it grossed merely $61.5 million. With a gross of $160.9 million in other territories, it still fell short with a total gross of $222.4 million.
Napoleon seemed destined to fade away and be forgotten once its theatrical window closed. But as streaming tends to do with new audiences, things are not looking quite as hopeless for the future of this film.
Much like Napoleon himself, the film is rising to power (in the charts)
Image: Apple TV Plus
Now that the film has been on Apple TV Plus for two years, Napoleon has risen on the streaming charts. Currently, it sits at #4 on Apple TV’s Top Movies. Scott created a biopic that strikes a balance between fact and fabrication. Helmed by Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte, Napoleon follows the emperor’s ruthless quest for power, no matter the cost. While many viewers will likely have rudimentary knowledge of the rise and fall of Napoleon, Scott’s take serves to dig deeper, though sometimes it still does not dig deep enough.
Screenwriter David Scarpa researched the French emperor’s history, landing at the often-volatile relationship with his wife Joséphine de Beauharnais, who is played by Vanessa Kirby. The film received criticism from French critics and audiences for its historical inaccuracies. It was also criticized for its uneven pacing, which left some parts of the story slogging and feeling disjointed from the heavy action scenes.
Phoenix remains the real scene-stealer in Napoleon. The emperor was many things in life, and somehow Phoenix manages to encapsulate all of them. From his megalomania to his charisma, the role offers considerable complexity, and Phoenix takes that very seriously.
But even with a substantial runtime, Napoleon still could not manage to fit everything about the emperor’s life into one film. In fact, there is an extended director’s cut on Apple TV Plus. At 205 minutes, the cut goes further into the French Terror, as well as giving more background to Joséphine to flesh her character out further.
Being at #4 on the platform puts this film at good odds of continuing to be discovered and watched. While it may not make back the money that it lost during its theatrical run, its place in the charts is a good enough litmus test for what audiences are actually interested in.
Napoleon is streaming on Apple TV Plus.