Former Kristen Bell Comedy Bomb Finds New Life on Netflix

A relatively unknown comedy film from 2021 featuring Kristen Bell has surprisingly claimed the top spot on the Netflix film charts this week.

‘Queenpins,’ a 2021 comedy film starring Kristen Bell, has staged a remarkable comeback by climbing to the top of Netflix charts, surprising audiences and industry insiders alike. The movie, directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, initially faced mixed reviews upon its theatrical release but found a new lease on life after being sold to streaming services for a substantial sum. 

Originally released in September 2021, ‘Queenpins’ was written and directed by the husband-and-wife team Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly. In the film, Bell portrays a suburban woman adrift in life who initiates a counterfeit coupon scheme with her friend, played by Kirby Howell-Baptiste.

Despite negative reviews from critics upon its initial release, the film, also featuring Paul Walter Hauser, Bebe Rexha, and Vince Vaughn, has now gained unexpected popularity and currently holds a "rotten" 48 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes.

While the film initially achieved only modest success at the box office, it later secured a lucrative deal with streaming services, fetching over $20 million, well surpassing its $6.7 million budget.

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Now, during the bustling holiday season, the movie has surged to the top of the Netflix charts, outperforming more high-profile contenders like ‘Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget’ and ‘Rebel Moon.’

Despite critical assessments that were often harsh, with comments from the Austin Chronicle questioning Kristen Bell's presence and News.com.au deeming it unfunny, the film currently boasts an audience score of 82 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes.

‘Queenpins,’ which was initially criticized for feeling disjointed, is now available for streaming on Netflix.

– Farheen Ali