When vengeance is properly honed, it can be a deadly force to anyone who harnesses it as fuel.Dev Patel’s Kid, honed his inMonkey Man, and his fury was felt by those who had hurt him. Did you miss seeing the action-packed film in theaters? No worries,Monkey Manis set to make itsexclusive streaming debut on Peacock Friday, June 14, NBC Universal has announced. The film’s release in theaters saw itreceive positive reviews, garnering a Certified Fresh score of 88% from critics on the aggregator,Rotten Tomatoes, as well as positive reviews among fans, getting an audience score of 84%.
Patel directs and stars in the film, which was initially primed as a Netflix project, before being scooped up for a reported $10 million by Universal.Monkey Manis produced by Oscar-winning filmmakerJordan Peele(Get Out,Nope), and draws inspiration from the Indian legend of Lord Hanuman, a simian figure whose virtues include strength and courage. The action-packed thriller, drew comparison to theJohn Wick-esque franchise as it followed Patel as Kid, a young man donning a gorilla mask to fight in an underground fight club in the fictional Indian city of Yatana. Toughened by years of taking punches for cash, Kid soon turns his pent-up rage against the city’s elite, and those in positions of power whostripped him of all he had as a boy, including his mother.
Bloody and intense, Monkey Man was clearly “a passion project” with action that is “staggeringly impressive,” according to Collider’s ownPerri Nemiroffinher review. The level of passion put into the show’s development is highlighted by none other than Patel himself,who revealed, “I broke my hand in the first big action scene, broke some toes, tore a shoulder, eye infections, bruises.”
Lacking The Punch At The Box Office
Despite very strong reviews, comparisons toJohn Wick, and intense online buzz,Monkey Manstruggled to live up to those expectations at the box office. With Peele’s endorsement in toll, Monkey Man still struggles in theaters, grossinga worldwide total of around $28 million in three weeks.Monkey Man’s joust at the box office was notwithout stiff competition, coming up against the likes of Sony’sGhostbusters: Frozen Empire, Warner Bros. and Legendary’sGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and Universal’sKung Fu Panda 4.
Alongside Patel, the movie also starsSharlto Copleyas Tiger,Pitobashas Alphonso,Vipin Sharmaas Alpha, along with Bollywood stars such asSikandar Kheras Rana Singh,Sobhita Dhulipalaas Sita. Further rounding off the cast areAshwini Kalsekaras Queenie Kapoor,Adithi Kalkunteas Neela,Makarand Deshpandeas Baba Shakti, andZakir Hussainas a tabla maestro.
Monkey Manmakes its streaming debut on Peacock Friday, June 14.
Monkey Man
A recently released ex-felon living in India struggles to adjust to a world of corporate greed and eroding spiritual values.
