In our format “German cinema is [doch] awesome!” Every month we present a new film from Germany that has particularly excited, surprised or inspired us. While we would like to recommend the home invasion thriller ‘Home Sweet Home’ (theatrical release: January 25) to you in January, the local film landscape currently also has a real streaming hit:
Of “60 minutes“Since January 19, a brand new action film from Germany has been exclusively available on Netflix. And given its prominent cast, it was expected that the film, starring “Rheingold” and “Tribes Of Europa” star Emilio Sakraya, would generate a lot of attention in this country. But last but not least, the first international figures should now please the filmmakers around director Oliver Kienle:
With 10.6 million views in its opening week, the film ranked second on Netflix’s charts of the most-watched foreign-language films of the past week – and only has to admit defeat to the two-time Oscar-nominated disaster drama “The Snow Company” (13.4 million views). The direct comparison is somewhat problematic:
After all, ’60 Minutes’ didn’t start until January 19 – and compared to ‘Jurassic World 2’ creator JA Bayona’s film, it had four fewer days to rack up views for the week of January 15 to 21! Conversely, this means that the breathtaking action thriller from Germany only needed three days to reach second place. And might even reach the top of the charts next week.
In the top 10 in 67 countries
In Germany, ’60 Minutes’ mainly had to admit defeat to the Hollywood film ‘Lift’ by F. Gary Gray (starring Kevin Hart, among others), but a look at the worldwide figures further underlines the success of the German hit more. : In the first three days the film landed in the top 10 of no fewer than 67 countries. And that is something to be proud of for a German production – especially because the success is certainly not undeserved.
In the FILMSTARTS review the “handy martial arts action – from Germany!!!” received a solid 3 out of 5 possible stars. Author Lutz Granert praises the highly choreographed fights, but describes the film, which ‘looks very much like Hollywood without its own ideas’, but also describes it as ‘raw’ and ‘sometimes wooden’. FILMSTARTS editors Björn Becher and Daniel Fabian, however, do a lot better. Our tip therefore: If you like pure action, martial arts or “Lola runs” departure, “60 Minutes” could be for you too.
In a direct comparison with other German Netflix films, Oliver Kienle’s race against time starts stronger than ‘Prey’ (9.3 million views), ‘Blood & Gold’ (8.5 million) or ‘Paradise’ (8.1 million ), but also weaker than “Blood Red Sky” (17.5 million) and “Nothing New in the West” (12.8 million). But as I said: in the end only three days were counted in the starting week…