Kevin Costnerwill always prove popular on streaming. FromDances with WolvesandOpen Rangeto the consistent popularity of the huge hitYellowstone, Costner’s name is almost always in the upper echelons of the streaming ranks. Beyond his biggest hits, that also goes for his lesser-known work, with one such forgotten entry in his stacked filmography officiallyone of the ten most-watched movies on Tubi in the U.S., as of August 1, perFlixPatrol.
That movie isMessage in a Bottle, a late-’90s romantic drama that pairs Costner withWonder Woman’sRobin Wright, as well as the lateHarry PottericonRobbie Coltraneand Academy Award winnerPaul Newman. Despite scoring just 32% from critics on review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes,Message in a Bottleis performing more to its much stronger 66% audience rating, joining several big titles on Tubi’s top 10, including 1988’sMystic Pizza; 2003’s sci-fi flopDreamcatcher, starringDamian LewisandTimothy Olyphant; and the sequel to cult horror hitJeepers Creepers. For those yet to seeMessage in a Bottle, here’s a look at the synopsis:
“During her morning jog on the beach, journalist Theresa Osborne (Wright) discovers a bottle protruding from the sand. Inside it, she finds a heartbreaking, anonymous love letter. After her paper publishes the letter, Osborne tracks down the letter’s reclusive author, world-weary widower Garret Blake (Costner), in the Carolinas. But, as Osborne finds herself falling hopelessly in love with Blake, she becomes wracked with guilt over the real impetus for her visit.”
Did ‘Message in a Bottle’ Make a Splash at the Box Office?
Against huge 1999 competition from films likeThe Phantom Menaceand Pixar’sToy Story 2,Message in a Bottlestruggled to make a sizable impact and missed out on the all-important break-even mark.From a reported budget of $30 million,Message in a Bottleonly returned 1.8 times its investment, finishing its theatrical run with ahaul of $52 million, all from domestic sales. Perhaps if the movie had been given a wider release, it could’ve proven more successful financially, especially when considering the impact it has had on streaming sites since. Alas, we’ll never know, but at leastTubi has given Costner fans the chance to catch one of his forgotten entriesthat likely passed them by when it debuted back in 1999.
Message in a Bottleis streaming now on Tubi. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.
Message in a Bottle
Source:FlixPatrol
