Thanks to streaming services, many films are able to be rediscovered after they initially flopped upon their release, and one of the latest to enjoy this popularity is Awake.

The thriller, which starred Hayden Christensen and Jessica Alba, was originally released back in 2007, and against its budget of $8.6 million, the film only made $32.7 million during its run in cinemas. It was also critically slammed, with an approval rating of 23% on Rotten Tomatoes.

On Netflix, the film has shot into the top 10 for several countries, while Prime has it in its 14th spot.

The film’s synopsis reads: “While undergoing surgery, a young man (Hayden Christensen) experiences intraoperative awareness. He becomes fully alert – but paralyzed – and therefore cannot tell his doctors that he is not sedated and is enduring the whole process. Meanwhile, his wife (Jessica Alba) wrestles with demons of her own while her husband suffers through his ordeal.”

What did fans make of Awake?

Although it performed poorly with critics, fans were a lot more interested in the film with its audience ratings being a positive 55%.

One wrote: “Awake is a pretty cool movie, the actors, some things are over done, but it’s a thriller, it’s supposed to keep you scared and tense, so I am willing to overlook the non-existence of reality, I think this movie meant to be that way.”

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Fans were impressed with the film where critics weren’t

A second penned: “To me this was an entertaining mystery thriller. In the beginning I thought it was a bit slow, but it was just necessary to let you know the characters,” while a third commented: “There is never a dull moment throughout the entire movie.”

However, in a more negative review, one watcher posted: “If you’re looking for some entertainment, this should fit the bill. The acting is so-so, and the writing is mediocre. But overall, I thought it was okay. Not the greatest, but not the worst either,” while another quipped: “Ludicrous movie with plot holes you could drive a monster truck through.”

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Some fans decried the film’s plot holes

In a two-star review for The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw opined: “The twists and turns in the plot are diverting in a ridiculous way, but it’s a film you watch in a state of incredulous inertia, tormented by the agonising implausibility, yet too paralysed with boredom to do anything about it.”

Who stars in Awake?

Awake had an incredibly A-list cast, with the film being led by Star Wars actor Hayden Christensen, who played main character Clay Beresford Jr., while Jessica Alba (Fantastic Four) portrayed his wife, Samantha Lockwood-Tunnel.

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Hayden and Jessica led the cast

Also featured in the cast were Terrence Howard (Hustle & Flow), Lena Olin (Enemies, A Love Story), Fisher Stevens (Succession), Arliss Howard (The Lost World: Jurassic Park), Christopher McDonald (Happy Gilmore), Georgina Chapman (Gossip Girl), David Harbour (Stranger Things) and Sam Robards (American Beauty).