Bob Odenkirk's $6M John Wick Flop Gets Revenge on Streaming as HBO Max's Most-Watched Title

Bob Odenkirk’s new action thriller Normal failed to make an impact in theaters this year. Thankfully, it is absolutely dominating the streaming charts now that it’s available for home viewing.

Per FlixPatrol, Normal is officially the number one most-watched film on HBO Max since its debut in the charts on Aug. 16. Not only has Normal overtaken other genre hits like The Long Walk and Sicario, but it has also soared past competition like Mortal Kombat 2 and The Drama in almost no time at all.

Why Normal Is So Worth Watching Even After It Flopped at the Box Office

Directed by Meg 2: The Trench‘s Ben Wheatley from a screenplay by John Wick‘s Derek Kolstad, Normal stars Odenkirk as Sheriff Ulysses of the small town of Normal, Minnesota. While Normal is typically a very quiet, prosperous community, the death of the previous sheriff and a pair of roving bank robbers in town upset the apparently delicate status quo in ways Ulysses never could have imagined.

Soon enough, Ulysses uncovers the truth behind the town’s wealth, which lies in protecting a yakuza horde. When Ulysses is unwilling to hunt down the robbers in exchange for a cut of things, he is forced to team up with a pair of common criminals against his own police department, the yakuza, and the rest of the corrupt townspeople.

Along with Odenkirk, Normal stars Henry Winkler as Mayor Kibner, Lena Headey as bartender Moira, and Jess McLeod as Alex Gunderson, the daughter of the previous sheriff. The film also features appearances from Reena Jolly, Billy MacLellan, Brendan Fletcher, Ryan Allen, and Peter Shinkoda.

Upon its release, Normal was met with generally favorable reviews, with many comparing its story to the likes of Hot Fuzz and its occasionally frenetic action sequences to Odenkirk’s fan-favorite Nobody film series. Unfortunately, the positive responses to the film didn’t help Normal make any real impact in theaters, with the film grossing just $6 million against a budget of close to $20 million.

What’s Next for the Stars of Normal?

Currently, Lena Headey is preparing to return to the world of romantic comedies for the upcoming Red, White & Royal Wedding. The sequel to Red, White & Royal Blue, which premiered in 2023 and was adapted from Casey McQuistion’s novel of the same name, Red, White & Royal Wedding will bring back original stars Taylor Zakhar Perez as Alex Claremont-Diaz and Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Henry Fox.

Headey’s Normal co-star Odenkirk, on the other hand, will be heading back to the realm of cinema for a decidedly different kind of feature in Bob and David Climb Machu Pichu. The upcoming documentary will see Odenkirk join forces with his longtime collaborator and Mr. Show co-star David Cross for a trek to the summit of Machu Pichu in Peru.

Normal is currently available for streaming on HBO Max.