Summary

• Real Steel, an underrated sci-fi film, is now a global hit on Netflix with millions of views and hours watched.
• Despite initial perceptions, the movie delivers gripping action, character development, and emotional depth.
• The film, based on a short story by Richard Matheson, exceeded expectations and may lead to a potential TV show or sequel.

Hugh Jackman's underrated sci-fi movie, Real Steel, becomes a global Netflix hit. Directed by Shawn Levy, with a script written by the Oscar-nominated John Gatins (Flight), the 2011 sci-fi sports film follows a former boxer who, in a futuristic world where robots have replaced human boxers, reconnects with his estranged son by building and training a robot boxer. Other than Jackman in the lead role, the cast also includes Dakota Goyo, Evangeline Lilly, Anthony Mackie, Olga Fonda, Karl Yune, Kevin Durand, Hope Davis, and James Rebhorn.

Now, over a decade later, Jackman's underrated sci-fi film is now a global hit on Netflix. For the week of June 3-9, Real Steel ranked 8th on Netflix's Global Top 10 chart with 3.3 million views and 6.9 million hours viewed. In November 2023, Real Steel appeared on Netflix's Top 10 chart in the United States, though this past week was the sci-fi film's first appearance in the Global Top 10, where it placed above The Lego Movie and the documentary How to Rob a Bank. Check out the full Global Top 10 chart below:

Real Steel is no longer streaming on Netflix in the United States, though it is available to rent or buy on digital platforms.

Why Real Steel Is Underrated

It's Better Than Its Silly Premise Suggests.

With Real Steel becoming a global Netflix hit, perhaps this could provide the boost required to fast-track the TV show, or perhaps finally see a sequel greenlit.

Ever since its release in 2011, Real Steel has been underrated and underappreciated. This is despite the sci-fi film receiving positive reactions from both critics and audiences, with Real Steel reviews saying that, despite its silly premise, the film is skillfully crafted and delivers gripping action alongside sufficient character development. The movie was also a box office success, making nearly $300 million and even receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Achievement in Visual Effects.

At first glance, Real Steel might seem like another generic robot fighting movie or even a ripoff of Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots when, in fact, the sci-fi film is based on the 1956 short story "Steel" by Richard Matheson that previously served as inspiration for an episode of The Twilight Zone. In turn, many viewers have been surprised by Real Steel's quality storytelling, character development, and emotional depth. Overall, it exceeds the expectations set by its seemingly silly premise.

Since its release in 2011, there has been much discussion about Real Steel 2, which has yet to come to fruition. In January 2022, it was announced that a Real Steel TV show is in development at Disney+ with Levy producing. However, like the sequel, progress seems to have stalled on that project. With Real Steel becoming a global Netflix hit, perhaps this could provide the boost required to fast-track the TV show or finally see a sequel greenlit.

What's The Status Of The Real Steel Follow-Ups?

Will The Sequel Or Disney+ Show Ever Happen?

However, despite several attempts by different writers to develop satisfactory scripts, none of the drafts ever simultaneously convinced Levy, Jackman, or producer Steven Spielberg that the story was compelling enough to justify making a sequel.

After some initial discussion around the time of its release in 2011, sequel talks really kicked up in 2016 when director Shawn Levy said that Real Steel 2 was still in the early stages of development and shared some of his story ideas. The director revealed they actually started developing a sequel six months before the movie was released due to positive test screenings. However, the biggest challenge, according to Levy, is coming "up with a sequel that doesn’t feel like a re-hash of the first movie."

Nevertheless, Levy shared his story ideas for a sequel, saying that he would love to explore the origins and design of the robot Atom, focusing specifically on how he was created and what aspects of his design might have contributed to his self-awareness and intelligence. However, despite several attempts by different writers to develop satisfactory scripts, none of the drafts ever simultaneously convinced Levy, Jackman, or producer Steven Spielberg that the story was compelling enough to justify making a sequel.

Sequels talks died down for several years, though they kicked up again in 2021 when Levy said he wanted to reunite Jackman and Ryan Reynolds (following X-Men Origins: Wolverine) in a Real Steel sequel. However, that was before Levy directed Jackman and Reynolds on Deadpool & Wolverine. It's unclear if the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie fulfilled Levy's urge to reunite Jackman and Reynolds, or if he remains interested in making a Real Steel sequel with the two stars.

A Real Steel show was announced for Disney+ in 2022 and with Levy attached as a producer, the project may replace the long-gestating sequel as the definitive follow-up to the 2011 film. Despite stalling for several years, the Disney+ show made some progress in April 2024 by hiring a writing team, whose names have not yet been revealed. Evidenced by its continued success on Netflix, Real Steel remains as popular as ever, but in of a potential follow-up to the film, the Disney+ show seems like the much surer bet at the moment given its recent progress.

Source: Netflix