Biographical dramas have been popular long before the era of streaming services, but their accessibility on these platforms has undoubtedly expanded their viewership. This is evident in the case of “The Boys in the Boat,” which currently holds the #2 spot on Prime Video in the United States, according to FlixPatrol.
The 2023 film, depicting the story of the 1936 University of Washington rowing team, was directed by George Clooney in his eleventh directorial endeavor. He remarked, “It was really important to us that that the rowing community actually had a film that captured the thrill of what that is, and the speed.”
Mark L. Smith, known for his work on “The Revenant,” adapted the screenplay from Daniel James Brown‘s 2013 book, which was nominated to various awards and took many home.
‘The Boys in the Boat’ trends #2 on Prime Video US
The narrative of the 1936 University of Washington rowing team stands as one of the most remarkable epics in sports history. Hence, it comes as no surprise that its adaptation ranks as the second most-viewed movie in the United States catalog on Prime Video.
Thanks to its immense viewership, it has surpassed “Mean Girls,” despite the latter being the top musical flick of 2024. Currently, it finds itself in a tight competition with “Die Hart 2: Die Harter” for the first position, a spot held by Clooney’s movie in recent weeks.
As previously mentioned, “The Boys in the Boat” chronicles the ascent of a male rowing team from the University of Washington, culminating in their triumph at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, despite their initial lack of experience in the sport.
Joel Edgerton portrays Coach Al Ulbrickson, the driving force behind the team’s success. The rest of the cast delivers outstanding performances, including Callum Turner, Peter Guinness, Sam Strike, Thomas Elms, and others.
Ain interesting fact is that the actors dedicated blood, sweat and tears to accurately portray the Olympic champions. Training rigorously for months, they spent four hours rowing daily, followed by an additional hour of practice after filming, ultimately matching the original crew’s strokes per minute at the Olympics