A few days after Christmas we covered Will Smith wearing an ugly Christmas sweater and doing lots of enviable Christmas activities, all orchestrated by his wife, Jada. I mentioned in that story that I’d watched the first half of Will’s new Netflix show, Bright, and just gave up when it got too complicated. That was right around the time that Noomi Rapace’s character came in. Several of you said you really liked it though and found it entertaining and funny. It got skewered by critics but enough people who watched must have enjoyed it because we’re hearing that they’re making a second one. As I didn’t finish the first, I have no idea what plot points they’ll need to wrap up or address from the initial two hour film. The good news is that writer Max Landis isn’t coming back! That POS must have sealed his fate by bragging that he emotionally abused his ex girlfriend and claiming that chicks “just throw it” at him on set when he’s working. Netflix has employed and fired enough abusers, they’ve learned their lesson. Maybe the sequel will be an improvement, at least the dialog may not be as painful.
Netflix released this cute video of “orcs” auditioning for the sequel. I have to admit this was funny and made me want to finish the show.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Orc auditions for the @BrightNetflix sequel are now closed. Thank you. Have a nice day. pic.twitter.com/QnVqkgYRkE
— Netflix US (@netflix) January 3, 2018
Variety reports that 11 million people watched Bright in the first three days of its release, according to Nielsen estimates, which is less than the 15.8 million who saw Stranger Things season two but still excellent. This makes it the most-watched original film on Netflix. It’s also the current most watched film on Netflix in every country and is doing very well overseas. So they’re churning out another one and people will watch it. Rotten Tomatoes just doesn’t matter as much when it comes to subscription services. The shows are essentially free, you can watch them from home while multitasking and there’s just not as much of a commitment as driving to the theater and sitting there for two or more hours. So people will give lower-rated Netflix shows a chance where they wouldn’t with films.
Photos credit: Netflix
It got over 11 million views. Not counting those that viewed it no computers or phones or whatever. So yes they will make another and people will watch it. All the reviews mean nothing. People watch for curiosity and will do so in the sequel. I saw it and it was not a bad movie. Not a great one but not horrible. I’ve seen movies far worse that the critics praised. Just a matter of taste. Hopefully the next one will be better.
Critics reviews were awful and audience reviews were amazing! Last I checked Bright had an 88% audience score on rotten tomatoes, so while it’s not a cinematic masterpiece people definitely seemed to love it. I loved it too, can’t wait to see the sequel!!
every movie doesn’t have to be a cinematic masterpiece. As you said many of those that saw it enjoyed it for what it was. Jsut a movie. Critics sadly see everything through Oscar eyes or big blockbusters. Netflix just threw down and did a major blockbuster. And I’m sure Studios are upset too. So good for them. I watch more Netflix than ever. Some great programming. And you get to see things from other countries that are not in our Theaters or on the Networks.
I actually enjoyed Bright but then again i wasn’t expecting Hamlet.
I just hope that they have a LOT more of the hot FBI elf and his ginger sidekick – those 2 were criminally underused, esp the hot elf. Did i say i liked the hot elf?!?!
They missed a lot of opportunity in the film. The Original (Alien Nation) did a better job with why the discrimination/hatred was there for the Orcs.. the movie just didn’t touch on it like AN did. The Orcs are stronger and can do certain labor jobs better. That was addressed in the first. And it made sense. It made it understandable why humans felt threatened. And why the hate for Orcs and acceptance of Elves.. LOL. the movie missed the mark on that and it would have benefited it if it had touched on that. I liked James Caan and Mandy Patinkin relationship/chemistry better. But Joel Edgerton did a great job on the character.
I watched. I didn’t hate it.
Joel Edgerton’s Nick Jakoby was really the saving grace though. The story was kind of a mess but Joel made his character funny, charming and sincere and I stayed for him more than anything.
Joel is a great actor and seems to be a great person, too. Love him to bits and pieces.
It wasn’t the train wreck that critics made it out to be. I would actually like a prequel more than a sequel. But I’ll still watch the follow up.
I really enjoyed Bright because of Joel Edgerton, he played the Orc character brilliantly. I hope they bring him back for the sequel and pay him the same as Will Smith, because that guy really phoned it in with this film. It was the first time I hated Will Smith in a film.
Oh yes Joel Edgerton’s Jakoby was the heart of this movie. Will Smith played his usual character – a smart ass.
Will was a jerk also in this roll though too.
Slight spoiler below:
The sequel will probably have something to do with the situation that was discovered, before the FBI showed up at the end.
Nielsen boxes are so outdated. I think the studios wanted it to do poorly so less big name actors sign on for Netflix movies, and we still have to spend 30$ to see a movie!
I LOVED it. More please!
Will Smith is usually the heart of any movie, with his charm and wit. But in this, Joel Edgerton provides the emotional center, while WS curses and complains about getting stuck with an orc for a partner. I will watch a sequel for Edgerton.
Will sadly just played Will. I would have liked his character to be different than his other roles. I wondered though because he is a black actor if they didn’t go all in on the racism. James Caan’s role in the original had more of an arc. We saw the character change. I didn’t get that much from Will’s role.
I actually thought Will Smith played a slightly different character from his usual. Typically I like his characters, but this one was so racist and rude in the beginning. Like – usually he’s a smart aleck, but not hostile.
I didn’t even recognize Noomi. I will have to rewatch this.
Didn’t like Will’s character- too much of a jerk. Hopefully he’ll be a little softer to Nick in the sequel. Loved Nick.
I really enjoyed it and would definitely watch a sequel. It’s wasn’t like the twist was hard to see coming or the plot over complicated but it was a fun two hours. It ended leaving me interested in finding out more about the world.