A Star-Studded Blockbuster Adventure Is Climbing Streaming Charts
Rise of the Guardians is now trending on streaming services, just in time for the holidays.
A big-budget adventure from a decade ago has resurfaced just in time for the holiday season. Rise of the Guardians, a 2012 animated epic from Into the Spider-Verse director Peter Ramsey, climbed into Freevee’s number five spot today. The film’s all-star lineup, led by Star Trek’s Chris Pine, features the familiar voices of several fan-favorite actors portraying beloved mythical icons on a quest to save the world.
The feature directorial debut for Ramsey, Rise of the Guardians features Hugh Jackman as the Easter Bunny, Alec Baldwin as Nicholas St. North, and Isla Fisher as the Tooth Fairy. Along with the silent Sandman, these legends enlist the help of Jack Frost, played by Pine, to defeat Pitch Black, a nightmarish figure terrorizing children on a quest to enshroud the world in darkness. The villain is voiced by none other than Jude Law.
The shining stars don’t end with the cast. In addition to Ramsey, the behind-the-scenes team has a glowing resume all its own. Guillermo Del Toro executive produces the film, which is co-written by David Lindsay-Abaire, one of the scribes behind 2005’s Robots. The whimsical adventure is set to a score by composer Alexandre Desplat, whose lengthy credits include projects with Del Toro and Wes Anderson, along with Twilight and Harry Potter films.
Such a massive show of talent begs the question: how is there only one Rise of the Guardians film? What seems like a recipe for success on paper did not translate into reality as well as DreamWorks hoped back in 2012. The film, which boasted an impressive $145 million budget, was a gamble DreamWorks relied on to fund future projects. Though the movie grossed $306 million, it was not enough to offset the film’s massive marketing costs. Rise’s failure to earn its keep resulted in an $87 million dollar loss that forced DreamWorks to institute layoffs and rethink its future film slate.
The movie’s reception was decent, racking up a 74% critic score and 80% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite best efforts, a sequel to the adventure never took flight. Though Rise of the Guardians did not spin into the franchise many hoped it would, current trends might forge a new destiny for the ill-fated blockbuster.
The film’s stars are as hot as ever. Hugh Jackman is returning to his role as Wolverine alongside Ryan Reynolds for Deadpool 3 despite his supposed retirement from the Marvel legend. As Chris Pine awaits the communicator call to reprise his role as Captain Kirk, he’s jaunting across medieval lands in the highly-anticipated Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves film. Meanwhile, Jude Law is shipping off from Hogwarts to join the fight in a Galaxy Far, Far Away.
With its cult following, popularity resurgence, and successful alumni, fans of Rise of the Guardians should never say never. A bit of holiday optimism could go a long way for fans of a film that has faded into relative obscurity. Increased viewership of the title could go even further. In the movie business, anything is possible. And as Rise of the Guardians taught us a decade ago, dreams are stronger than nightmares.
