Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel: From Box Office Flop to Global Streaming Masterpiece

— Surya Prakash Josyula

“Flop!”
That was the world’s verdict on this movie five years ago.

“Masterpiece!”
That is the same world’s verdict on the very same movie today.

The movie didn’t change… what changed is the way the audience looks at it.

Made on a huge budget of ₹850 crore, a Hollywood film that crashed miserably at the box office upon release… is now creating a sensation worldwide on OTT five years later. That film is Ridley Scott’s ‘The Last Duel’.

While watching a good movie on OTT, haven’t we all thought—”Oh man! How did we miss such a great movie in theaters?” Right now, film lovers across the globe are experiencing that exact same feeling. This movie is living proof that box office numbers can never define the true quality of a film.

Why Was It Rejected Back Then?

When the movie hit theaters in October 2021, it suffered heavy losses. Against a budget of $100 million (₹965 crore), it collected only $30 million (₹289.5 crore) worldwide! There were a few strong reasons why audiences ignored it back then:

Covid Fears & Digital Habits:

Even though theaters reopened right after the second wave, people were afraid to go. Especially the target audience for this film (Adult Audience) preferred staying home over visiting theaters.

Lack of Promotion & Heavy Content:

This movie is a serious drama centered around assault, dominance, and a legal battle. Its slow-burn narrative, showing the same story from three different perspectives in a ‘Rashomon’ style, failed to attract audiences at that time.

Failure to Attract Youth:

In an era dominated by Marvel superhero movies, the young audience back then showed little interest in watching a traditional historical epic set in medieval times.

What is the Story? Three Truths… One Dangerous Ending!

14th-century France. Shadows of monarchy, customs in the name of religion, and justice that comes only by drawing the sword… this was the society of that time. In this backdrop, ‘The Last Duel’ is the story of two warriors who start as close friends and end up as deadly enemies facing each other at swordpoint.

The film does not follow a linear, single-point narrative. It unfolds through three distinct perspectives (Rashomon Style) revolving around the same incident. Here are their thoughts and their truths:

1. Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon): “My Honor is My Life”

Jean is a rough, brave soldier who knows only fighting and no deceit. He would give his life for his country on the battlefield. But he doesn’t know how to flatter people in royal courts or politics. Because of this, he loses the land and titles he deserves. When he learns that his former friend Jacques Le Gris assaulted his wife Marguerite, his blood boils. According to the laws of France back then… to protect his wife’s honor and his family’s dignity, he stands before the King and challenges him to a “Trial by Combat (Duel)”. To him, winning the battle is ‘justice’.

2. Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver): “I Did Nothing Wrong”

Jacques is handsome, clever, and very close to Lord Pierre (Ben Affleck). He knows very well how to conduct himself in courts and how to use power. That’s why the titles and lands meant for Jean go to Jacques instead, sparking a feud between them. Infatuated with Marguerite, Jacques traps her and commits a horrific act. But in his view… it was not assault! He convinces himself that she liked him too and that he did nothing wrong.

3. Marguerite (Jodie Comer): “This is My Truth… I Am the Victim!”

The most crucial and emotional core of the story belongs to Marguerite. On one side, her husband Jean treats her merely as property and a symbol of his honor. On the other side, Jacques destroys her dignity. In those times, if a woman spoke out about an assault, society blamed her. Knowing this, she risks her life and speaks up. “Even if I lose my life for telling the truth… the nightmare I endured is real,” she declares.

The Climax: One’s Life… Another’s Honor!

There is a mind-blowing twist here! According to French law at the time—whoever won the duel was believed to have God on their side, and their version was deemed the ‘truth’.

If her husband Jean wins… Marguerite’s claim is proven true, and she survives.

If Jean loses and dies… Marguerite’s claim is judged a “lie”, and as per ancient custom, she will be burned alive at the stake!

Marguerite is forced to watch her husband fight a bloody battle while chained near the pyre prepared for her execution. The 30-minute climax sequence featuring horses, swords, and bloody combat keeps the audience holding their breath.

Why Are People Watching It Now?

There are two major reasons why the same audience that rejected it in theaters is now embracing it on OTT:

The Period Movie Wave Created by Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’!

Christopher Nolan’s recently released ‘The Odyssey’ shook the global box office. Based on Homer’s ancient Greek epic, this mythological action epic transformed audience tastes worldwide overnight. It drastically increased people’s interest in large-scale period, historical, and mythological films. As a result, audiences started searching on OTT platforms for similar epic historical dramas.

The Magic of ‘The Odyssey’ Hero Matt Damon!

Another interesting connection… the actor who played the title role (Odysseus) in Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ is none other than Matt Damon! Currently, Matt Damon’s name is echoing around the world. Thrilled by his performance in ‘The Odyssey’, viewers began searching for previous period/war movies starring Matt Damon. That’s how Ridley Scott’s ‘The Last Duel’, where he fights with a sword, caught the audience’s eye on OTT. The craze generated by Nolan, combined with the star power of ‘The Odyssey’ hero Matt Damon, gave ‘The Last Duel’ an unexpected boost on streaming.

Other Films That Lost at the Box Office… But Won in History!

‘The Last Duel’ is not the only film that became a masterpiece over time. History has many such examples:

The Shawshank Redemption: A box office disaster when released in 1994. But today, it stands as the #1 movie in the world on IMDb.

Blade Runner: Also directed by Ridley Scott! A flop upon its 1982 release, it eventually became a benchmark for sci-fi cinema.

Fight Club: Turned out to be a box office failure in 1999. Later, it created a sensation on DVDs and television, gaining cult status.

Tenet: Directed by Nolan, this mind-bending thriller couldn’t perform well in theaters due to the pandemic, but later received massive love on OTT platforms.

In Conclusion…

Every movie has a release date. But every great movie also has its “time.” For ‘The Last Duel’, that time arrived five years later. That’s all.

Where to Watch:

Currently streaming on Paramount+.