Introduction to Tin Soldier
Hollywood powerhouse Robert de Niro has published several projects this year, but one flew softly under the radar. His first publication of the year was Netflix’s political thriller, Zero Day, which was soon followed by the Warner Bros. gangster feature, The Alto Knights. However, the project that you may not have heard of is Tin Soldier, an action thriller directed by Brad Furman that had to navigate a rocky road to publication.
The Film’s Publication Journey
The film recently overcame its distribution problems when Samuel Goldwyn Films officially secured its North American sales rights. While it awaits its debut in the States, Tin Soldier has already marched into the international arena via Prime Video, where it is currently gaining traction.
The Star-Studded Lineup
Tin Soldier boasts a super-stacked lineup. In addition to De Niro, the cult thriller also stars Jamie Foxx, Scott Eastwood, John Leguizamo (John Wick), Saïd Taghmaoui (John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum), and British singer Rita Ora. The film tells the story of The Bokushi (Foxx), a charismatic leader who has attracted hundreds of veterans with his promise of protection and purpose. Surrounded by his devout military followers, he builds an impenetrable fortress and accumulates an arsenal of weapons. After several failed attempts to infiltrate, the government recruits a military operative, Emuel Ashburn (De Niro), and Nash-Cavanaugh (Eastwood), an ex-special forces operative who was once under The Bokushi’s guidance.
Nash’s Quest for Revenge
Nash agrees to use his vulnerable past and insider knowledge of the enigmatic guide to finally get revenge on the man who took everything from him, including the love of his life.
Performance on Streaming Platforms
After its international premiere on Prime, Tin Soldier muscled its way into the top 10 of the streamer, according to Flixpatrol, reaching 9th place in the film charts. It is in good company, with titles like The Accountant 2, which recently reached the platform after a decent theatrical run, and its predecessor, The Accountant, which is currently ranked #3. Other trending titles on the streamer include War, A Working Man, Me Before You, Stab, and Woody Harrelson’s Last Breath.
Mixed Audience Reception
While Tin Soldier may be attracting audiences, it is not exactly convincing them. The film is currently holding a brutal score of 2% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on around 50 reviews, which indicates that it is one of those "so bad that you have to see it for yourself" movies. In streaming, curiosity is often the secret weapon, and Tin Soldier could just benefit from this impulse.
Another Robert De Niro Movie Succeeding on Streaming
Interestingly, Tin Soldier is not the only current De Niro project that is finding redemption on streaming. The Alto Knights, which struggled both commercially and critically at its theatrical release, recently landed on HBO Max and shot to the top of the film charts, even surpassing new titles like Mountain Head and Mickey 17. While critics have given it a rotten rating of 39% on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences have disagreed, giving it a fresh rating of 71%. Although this goodwill did not translate to the box office, it has definitely done so on streaming, where the film continues to rank among the most viewed on HBO Max.
Future Prospects for Tin Soldier
Whether Tin Soldier can repeat this type of persistent impulse remains to be seen. The film is set to make its domestic debut soon, and it will be interesting to see how it performs. Until then, you can check out the trailer and stay tuned for more updates.
