• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Stephen King horror starring Zac Efron shoots near top of Netflix despite unwanted Rotten Tomatoes score

Home> Entertainment> Netflix

Updated 13:40 21 Mar 2024 GMTPublished 12:18 20 Mar 2024 GMT

Stephen King horror starring Zac Efron shoots near top of Netflix despite unwanted Rotten Tomatoes score

The film is ranked in the top five of Netflix films right now

Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair

A Stephen King horror film is currently ranks highly on the streaming platform, though you wouldn't have predicted it from its initial reception from audiences.

Based on King's novel of the same name, it's also a remake of the 1984 film that starred Drew Barrymore.

Directed and produced by Oscar-winning Akiva Goldsman alongside the producer of the Paranormal Activity franchise, Jason Blum, it's fair to say that the film had high expectations.

Advert

The film is ranked fourth on Netflix films.
Universal

The 2022 film was released in theatres and on streaming platform Peacock simultaneously to negative reviews, as critics thought that it did not live up to the original.

With a score of just 11 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, it also grossed a total of $15 million (£11.8 million) at the box office, against a budget of $12 million (£9.4 million).

But despite all of these obstacles, it has managed to rank in the top five of films on Netflix, with several viewers seemingly going out of their way to watch the sci-fi horror.

It's called Firestarter, and you can view the trailer here:

Firestarter follows 12-year-old Charlie, the child of Andy and Vicky, who took part in a clinical trial when they were younger that involved them being injected with a chemical drug that gave them supernatural powers.

Advert

Her father Andy is telepathic, while her mother Vicky has telekinesis.

Charlie is pyrokinetic, meaning she can control heat and fire, but she senses that they are getting out of control following a few outbursts.

The family are then hunted down by the Department of Scientific Intelligence, who monitor Charlie's thermal signatures.

Firestarter stars Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Charlie, Zac Efron as Andy, Sydney Lemmon as Vicky and That 70s' Show star Kurtwood Smith as the Doctor, among others.

Amidst the poor reception it received, the film managed to rank at fourth on Netflix films, with several viewers eager to see the modern Stephen King adaptation.

Advert

Zac Efron stars in the horror film.
Universal

This article contains affiliate links and LADbible Group might make a commission on anything purchased.

Subscribers to the streaming platform have shared reviews of the film on X, with one user commenting: "It's really, really good, trust me. You should watch it when you have the time..."

Another posted: "It's been a long time since I seen the original but it was pretty decent ... It was a good watch on crave."

However, other users didn't agree.

Advert

A third commented: "It just isn't the same. The original will always be better."

A different user said: "Not sure a remake was actually needed for this one if I’m honest."

Firestarter can be streamed on Netflix now, and fans can also watch it via Amazon.

Featured Image Credit: Blumhouse Productions

Topics: Netflix, Stephen King, Zac Efron, Reviews, Film

Joshua Nair
Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair is a journalist at LADbible. Born in Malaysia and raised in Dubai, he has always been interested in writing about a range of subjects, from sports to trending pop culture news. After graduating from Oxford Brookes University with a BA in Media, Journalism and Publishing, he got a job freelance writing for SPORTbible while working in marketing before landing a full-time role at LADbible. Unfortunately, he's unhealthily obsessed with Manchester United, which takes its toll on his mental and physical health. Daily.

X

@joshnair10

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Netflix release thriller deemed ‘modern day Rambo' with near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score
  • Stephen King reveals his all-time favourite horror movie and the ‘helpless terror’ he felt watching it
  • Netflix finally adds dark British comedy starring Martin Freeman with 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes
  • Free to watch Steven Spielberg alien series starring Dakota Fanning has 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
  • 4 hours ago

    Huge Irish A-lister emerges as latest James Bond cast frontrunner

    You know he could deliver an amazing performance

    Entertainment
  • 4 hours ago

    Liam Gallagher furiously defends fans after council allegedly brands them 'fat, drunk and lairy' ahead of reunion tour

    The Oasis star is never one to mince his words

    Entertainment
  • 4 hours ago

    Margot Robbie’s brother didn’t speak to her for months after ‘uncomfortable’ Wolf of Wall Street nude scene

    Margot Robbie played Natalie Lapaglia in the 2013 hit film though some scenes left her family members feeling awkward

    Entertainment
  • 4 hours ago

    Brad Pitt reveals the one condition he has to work on a film with Tom Cruise

    The two legendary actors have rarely worked together

    Entertainment