Amazon Prime viewers are hooked on a film hailed as the ‘perfect interpretation’ of an ‘underrated character’, sparking calls for a sequel.
The 2012 release, Dredd, has climbed into the top ten most-watched titles on the platform, currently holding the tenth spot.
Despite being at the bottom of this elite list, below recent releases like comedy You’re Cordially Invited, sci-fi thriller Evalation and true crime drama The Order, its presence is noteworthy given its quiet addition to the service.
The script for Dredd was penned by Alex Garland, known for his work on 28 Days Later and its sequels, Annihilation, Ex Machina and Civil War.
While Pete Travis received directorial credit, reports suggest that Garland completed the filming himself.
This was the latest attempt to adapt the cherished comic book character Judge Dredd from 2000 AD comics, following a 1990s version featuring Sylvester Stallone.
Karl Urban, known for his role in Amazon Prime’s hit series The Boys, stepped into the role of the law enforcer in the gritty iteration of Judge Dredd. Set against the backdrop of a dystopian future where street judges hold ultimate power, Urban’s portrayal of the stoic Dredd sees him pairing with a psychic new recruit, Cassandra, to crack down on a triple homicide, reports Surrey Live.
Their investigation leads them to a high-rise controlled by Ma-Ma, a ruthless drug lord peddling the mind-bending substance SLO-MO. Despite its creative strengths, Dredd flopped financially at the box office, attributed largely to inadequate marketing and the studio’s controversial decision to release the film only in 3D, limiting its accessibility.
Critically acclaimed with an 80% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Dredd earned a dedicated following dismayed at the absence of a sequel years after its debut.
Fans took to social media to express their longing for a continuation, with one ardently posting: “I absolutely loved this movie! I think even more than the first one. The visuals, the story, the action, the acting – too bad they didn’t make a sequel!”
Another devotee praised the film, remarking: “It has got something special, in my opinion. I like the setting, the atmosphere. Karl Urban is very convincing as Dredd. A respectful interpretation of the comic books. Deserving of a follow-up and then some.”
Echoing the sentiments, another fan shared: “Now this, for readers of the comics, this is what Dredd is. Not the Hollywood Stallone version, which in fairness was never meant to be. I was gutted they didn’t capitalise on Dredd’s success and bring so many of the great storylines to the screen. It needs a sequel. Imagine the Death Judges. The above aside, loved the movie.”
Urban’s portrayal of Judge Dredd also garnered acclaim for its authenticity and the challenge of bringing such an iconic character to life. A viewer enthused, “Dark. Gritty. Exciting. Everything an action movie should be. Dredd is a non-stop thrill ride and in my opinion one of the absolute best comic book movie adaptations ever created. It is a big upgrade from the campy Stallone original from the 90’s. Karl Urban and Olivia Thrilby play their respective roles perfectly. The cinematography and sound design is spot on too. The only bad thing about this movie is that it didn’t spawn a MUCH needed trilogy. Dredd is criminally underrated.”
Dredd is streaming on Amazon Prime.
