Russell Crowe Netflix 2026 thriller ‘Unabomber’ hits 40 million views despite mixed reviews | Today’s news
Russell Crowe’s latest Netflix thriller Unabomber has become one of the streaming platform’s biggest hits of 2026, attracting around 40 million views in its first two weeks of release.
Russell Crowe’s Unabomber tops Netflix charts
The film, which explores the life of notorious American domestic terrorist Ted Kaczynski, has found a sizable audience despite receiving mostly unfavorable reviews from critics.
According to a Collider report published on October 10, the crime drama has continued to attract viewers since its September 25 premiere. His performance highlights the continued desire for true crime stories, particularly those that return to notorious crime cases and examine the circumstances surrounding them.
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The film is directed by Janus Metz Pedersen and stars Crowe alongside Jacob Tremblay, Shailene Woodley and Annabelle Wallis.
The Unabomber reportedly attracted around 16 million views in its first week before reaching around 40 million views in its first two weeks, according to Collider. The numbers make it one of Netflix’s notable original releases this year.
Its popularity has come even as the film struggles to win over critics. Collider reported that the Unabomber had a score of 25% on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviewers questioning its central premise despite acknowledging the performances.
The contrast between its critical reception and streaming numbers is striking. While negative reviews can affect a film’s reputation, it doesn’t always stop audiences from watching a story based on a widely recognized real-life crime case.
What is ‘Unabomber’ about?
Released on Netflix on September 25, 2026, Unabomber dramatizes the life of Kaczynski, a Harvard-educated mathematician who led a campaign of mail bombs across the United States over nearly two decades.
The attacks killed three people and injured 23 others, prompting an extensive FBI investigation that eventually led to his capture.
The film follows two intertwined timelines, exploring Kaczynski’s formative years and the investigation that ultimately ended his bombing campaign.
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It explores how his experiences as a young academic intersected with the events that preceded his crimes without removing the consequences of his actions from the story.
Meet the cast and characters
Tremblay plays Kaczynski, while Crowe portrays Harvard psychologist Henry Murray, whose controversial experiments with a young student form an important part of the film’s narrative.
Woodley appears as FBI agent Joanne Miller, who is involved in the investigation, while Wallis plays Christiana Morgan, Murray’s academic colleague and love interest.
Written by Sam Chalsen and Nelson Greaves, the film is inspired by true events. His approach combines psychological drama with the investigative elements of a crime thriller.
The Unabomber’s performance adds to Netflix’s string of successful mid-budget genre films. Collider noted that other releases, including The Rip, Thrash, and Apex, also surpassed the 100 million view mark.