Here's Why 'Inheritance' Met Critical Failure Before Topping Netflix Charts

Despite facing critical backlash upon its 2020 theatrical release, the thriller film ‘Inheritance,' featuring Lily Collins, is currently enjoying a surge in popularity on Netflix. According to Digital Spy, the movie has risen to become one of the top English-language films on the streaming platform this week, securing the fourth spot with 5.1 million views, surpassing ‘Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning’s’ 4.8 million views. Topping the list are ‘Trigger Warning’, ‘Ultraman: Rising’, and ‘Dracula Untold’.

In ‘Inheritance’, Collins portrays Lauren Monroe, the daughter of Archer Monroe, a wealthy and influential patriarch. The storyline revolves around Lauren's discovery of a secretive inheritance following her father's sudden death, unravelling dark secrets that threaten her family's stability.

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Directed by Vaughn Stein from a screenplay by Matthew Kennedy, the film also features Simon Pegg as the antagonist Morgan Warner/Carson, Connie Nielsen as Lauren’s mother Catherine Monroe, Chace Crawford as Lauren’s brother William Monroe, and Patrick Warburton as the late Archer Monroe.

Upon its initial release, 'Inheritance' garnered a 27% audience score and later expanded its theatrical run to six additional countries, grossing $304,931 internationally. Critically, the film received a low 23% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, its success on Netflix has been notable, particularly in South American countries like Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia, despite not being available in the U.S. or U.K. markets as of now.

Lily Collins began her acting career at a young age and gained recognition for her role in the 2009 sports drama ‘The Blind Side’. She has since appeared in several successful films such as ‘Priest’, ‘Abduction’, and ‘The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones’. Recently, she is best known for her lead role in the Netflix series ‘Emily in Paris’, where she portrays Emily Cooper. 

Her performance earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination as a producer. Emily in Paris is set to return for its fourth season in August, exploring Emily's journey after the events at Camille and Gabriel's wedding and her pursuit of a Michelin star for their restaurant.

–Farheen Ali