One ofGerard Butler’s best hidden gemmovieshas finally found acclaim on streaming, but it exposes a harsh truth about the action star’s career. Getting his start in the mid ’90s, Butler quickly broke into the mainstream in films likeReign of FireandThe Phantom of the Opera. Butler became synonymous with action thanks to movies like300, and he was one of the biggest movie stars of the 2000s. While his action star status is secured, Butler is no stranger to other roles and even lent his voice to theHow to Train Your Dragonfranchise.
What makesGerard Butler’s action moviesso unique is that he can turn in an excellent performance while also playing a convincing hero. He’s equally deft at playing a gruff tough-guy, while also crafting more realistic and sensitive characters when the script calls for it. Now in the fourth decade of his career, Butler has settled into a comfortable groove in mid-budget action films, but he hasn’t stopped turning in strong performances. One of his more recent films is finally getting the attention it deserves, but there is one missed opportunity that hangs over Butler’s career.
Plane Proves Gerard Butler Would’ve Been An Excellent James Bond
The Scottish Actor Was A Prime Candidate For 007
Two years after its release,the Gerard Butler vehicle,Plane, rocketed up the streaming charts and has become a bona fide hit. It is vindication for what was a strong action film that largely flew under the radar, and it’s so much more than a disposable low-budget movie. Butler is tapped to play an action-hero role, buthis performance as pilot Brodie Torrance has depth that only he could bring to the part. Any other action star would have cheapened the experience, and Butler’s performance elevates the movie beyond some of the action movie clichés it’s guilty of copying.
When looking at the creative direction that the films went in while Daniel Craig was in the role, Butler could have easily stepped into the shoes of 007
Behind all that, the success ofPlanealso highlights a major missed opportunity in Gerard Butler’s long career. Though he was never seriously considered for the part, Gerard Butler’s action performances are proof that he would havemade an excellent James Bondearlier in his career. When looking at the creative direction that the films went in while Daniel Craig was in the role, Butler could have easily stepped into the shoes of 007. He would have been able to do the action sequences convincingly, andhe is a charming enough actor to capture Bond’s suave sideas well.
Unfortunately,the time has passed for Butler to play the British superspy. Even as the franchise turns in a new direction and searches for a fresh face for the role, Butler is now 10 years older than Roger Moore was when he assumed the part at 45. In an interesting bit of Bond history,Gerard Butler did appear in the Pierce Brosnan film,Tomorrow Never Dies, as a naval crew member. While it might be too late for him to play Bond himself, Butler could always appear as a villain or supporting character in a future 007 movie.
Why Plane Is An Overlooked Entry In Gerard Butler’s Action Canon
Plane Was Buried Beneath A Mountain Of Lackluster Movies
Though it was released theatrically,Planelooks like just another low-budget action filmthat gets dumped onto streaming to capitalize on the name recognition of its lead actor. While there’s no denying that Gerard Butler has gotten into a comfortable action movie groove,Planeis actually a well-crafted thriller with fun ideas. Despite its quality, it didn’t really make much of a splash, and faded into the background among the other January releases. However,Planedid make a tidy little profit when it grossed $74 million(viaBox Office Mojo).
Planewas the 62nd highest-grossing movie of 2023.
Plane’s biggest problem was its marketing, andthe movie didn’t have a very large presence when compared to other major releases. The marketing materials that did exist didn’t do it many favors, and it couldn’t really shake the image of a straight-to-streaming release that somehow ended up in theaters. The title is a bit too generic for its own good, andmany of the posters and other promotional images didn’t really explain many details about the film’s plot. If the movie had been marketed more as a tense thriller with action beats, it could have more easily found its audience.
2022
14%
2023
79%
45%
2025
62%
77%
Ultimately,Planewas hampered by a January release, and it’s typically a time when the box office is down across the board. Studios dump out whatever leftovers they have after the holidays and before the summer, andPlanegot lumped in with a lot of mediocre movies. Even if audiences were going to the theater in the early weeks of 2023, it was to see movies likeAvatar: The Way of WaterandPuss in Boots: The Last Wish. Fortunately, streaming has saved theGerard Butleraction movie from obscurity, andPlanehas finally reached the top of the charts.
