The 355, directed by Simon Kinberg and released on January 7, 2022, was positioned as a bold, female-led answer to the traditional spy thriller. With an ensemble cast featuring Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong’o, Diane Kruger, Penélope Cruz, and Fan Bingbing, the film had the star power and international scope to become a blockbuster. Its plot centered on a group of elite female spies from around the world who must set aside their rivalries and mistrust to retrieve a dangerous decryption device capable of accessing any digital system on the planet before it falls permanently into the wrong hands“Yet, despite its star power and globe-trotting premise, the film flopped at the box office, managing just $27.8 million worldwide against a hefty $75 million budget.” This financial shortfall was compounded by poor critical reception, with Rotten Tomatoes giving the film a low 24% rating. Reviewers criticized its predictable script, lack of originality, and underuse of its talented cast, describing it as a missed opportunity in a genre desperate for fresh takes.
However, The 355 experienced an unlikely resurgence three years later when it premiered on Netflix. In the streaming environment—where the cost of watching is much lower than buying a theater ticket and audiences are more open to casual viewing—the film quickly gained traction. It climbed Netflix’s global charts, introducing itself to a much wider audience than it had reached during its theatrical run. This streaming success highlights a growing trend in modern film distribution: theatrical flops can reinvent themselves as hits when released on digital platforms. For The 355, this second life on Netflix not only softened its legacy as a failure but also showcased how changing viewing habits can redefine a film’s cultural footprint, even years after its release.
