After being released on Netflix on Feb. 15th, “Crossroads” has become the eighth most-watched movie on the platform in the US, according to FlixPatrol. The film, which stars Britney Spears and Zoe Saldana, is celebrating 22 years since its release and it has become a cult classic.
The coming-of-age drama was directed by Tamra Davis, who is known for her work on other notable films such as “Billy Madison” and “Half Baked.” It was Spears’ acting debut, in which she shared the screen with other stars such as Zaldana, Taryn Manning, Anson Mount, Dan Aykroyd, and Kim Cattrall.
Upon its release, “Crossroads” received mixed reviews from critics but achieved commercial success, particularly due to Spears’ popularity at the time. While some praised the film’s themes of friendship and self-discovery, others criticized its predictable plot and clichéd dialogue.
‘Crossroads’ revisited: More than a Spears’ stars vehicle
‘Crossroads’ was, from its conception, Spear’s star vehicle and critics at the time of its release didn’t love it. The majority of the reviews slammed the script, and were divisive regarding Spears’ performance. While some critics believed she came off as “likable,” others thought her acting was insincere.
However, 20 years later, many critics have found that the film is better than how it was received, especially when it’s reinterpreted in the wake of Spear’s own career and life. For example, Rob Sheffield from Rolling Stone wrote that it has been “hidden for too long. Like Britney herself, it deserves a chance to break free.”
Meanwhile, Mekita Rivas from Harper’s Bazaar recently wrote that “The film’s plot, which turns 20 today, is essentially a loose recounting of Spears’s own journey from a small-town Southern girl to a global superstar.”
Of course, this is not rare as Spears and her team developed the concept for it, which was later written by a pre-Grey’s Anatomy Shonda Rhimes. While the movie is, on its exterior, a tale of friendship and love, it also deals with darker themes (although, with an admittedly light approach) such as bodily autonomy, teen pregnancy, abuse and more.
