Gareth Edwards's 2023 science-fiction film "The Creator" has become an unexpected streaming hit after landing on Netflix in most international markets this week, despite underperforming at the box office on its original release. The film, starring John David Washington, imagines a future war between humans and artificial intelligence after an AI detonates a nuclear weapon over Los Angeles, and its sudden popularity highlights how streaming can give overlooked original films a second life.

According to data from FlixPatrol, "The Creator" has entered Netflix's Top 10 in more than 45 countries, including the UK, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. It remains unavailable on Netflix in the United States, having briefly streamed there from March before being pulled roughly a month ago, suggesting a weaker reception domestically. Edwards, known for reviving established franchises such as Godzilla, Star Wars (Rogue One) and Jurassic World, has struggled to attract similar audiences for his original, non-franchise work until now.