Millie Bobby Brown's eagerly awaited sci-fi adventure, The Electric State, premiered on Netflix on March 14th, capturing attention with its ambitious scale. Directed by the Russo brothers, the film reportedly came with a staggering $320 million budget, making it one of Netflix’s most expensive productions to date. Based on Simon Stålenhag's graphic novel, the movie promised a thrilling and visually spectacular experience, blending cutting-edge effects with an engaging storyline. Expectations were extremely high due to the huge investment and the star-studded cast, and viewers eagerly awaited the cinematic extravaganza.

Unfortunately, the film’s debut numbers are alarming, leaving many questioning Netflix’s decision to green-light such a massive project and whether the cast knew what they were in for.

The Electric State debuted at the top of Netflix's weekly charts and topped 47 territories, but it has not been able to establish itself. It received 53.8 million viewing hours, or only 25.2 million views, less than Red Notice, Extraction, Damsel, The Gray Man, Carry-On and Rebel Ridge. More specifically, the movie has hit a new low in the viewers' eyes post the brothers' The Gray Man debacle, which remains an exemplary dud. These figures, however, are insignificant when compared to Netflix's biggest hits, indicating a poor showing for a movie with such a large budget. The movie has not created the buzz Netflix probably expected, despite the Russo brothers putting together a stellar cast that includes Chris Pratt, Anthony Mackie, Stanley Tucci, and Millie Bobby Brown. 

This will not be the first time we have seen this trend. Despite its star power, the high-budget 2022 action thriller The Gray Man by the Russo brothers fell short of expectations. The film, which had an enormous budget of almost $200 million, starred A-list actors like Chris Evans, Ryan Gosling, and Ana de Armas. However, it received mixed to negative reviews, with critics describing it as uninspired and generic, even though Netflix marketed it as a blockbuster franchise starter. It did not last long, failing to secure a devoted following or justify its massive investment, although it briefly topped the Netflix charts.

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This was not the first time a Russo brothers’ project, backed by an elite cast, has flopped. In a strange way, underwhelming big-budget films have become their signature.

The Russo brothers have had difficulty regaining their previous level of success since leaving the Marvel universe. It started with Tom Holland's battlefield drama Cherry, released in 2021, which had promise but fell short of making an impression. Then came the high-stakes thriller The Gray Man, which ultimately wasted Ryan Gosling and Ana de Armas's talents. They are back now with The Electric State, and although viewers have not made up their minds yet, critics have been harsh. It is the worst-reviewed movie of their careers, with a pitiful 10% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Netflix users are furious over The Electric State’s disastrous reception and are posting all sorts of negative comments on X. However, Millie Bobby Brown is still a streaming sensation, even though the movie's performance might not make it into Netflix's Top 10 all-time list. She has more work in the pipeline and is expected to return in April with Enola Holmes 3.

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Have you watched The Electric State yet? What are your thoughts on its disappointing performance on Netflix? Share your opinions in the comments below!