Apple TV+ has a new champion. The Gorge, directed by Scott Derrickson and starring Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy, has claimed the title of the streaming service’s biggest movie launch to date.
But while Apple touts its success, critical reception has been decidedly mixed.
So, is The Gorge a must-watch cinematic event, or is it just another overstuffed streaming spectacle?
A Record-Breaking Debut
Apple has been selective with its original film slate, aiming for prestige over sheer volume.
That makes The Gorge’s milestone all the more significant. According to reports, the film’s debut resulted in double-digit subscriber growth and an 80% increase in new viewers over its opening weekend.
It even outperformed Wolfs, the Jon Watts-directed thriller starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt.
However, Apple remains characteristically vague about the actual numbers.
While traditional box office successes come with concrete figures, the streaming world operates in murkier waters.
So, while The Gorge might be the biggest Apple TV+ premiere, whether it has staying power remains an open question.
As other films have demonstrated, initial streaming spikes don’t always translate to long-term cultural impact.
The Story: Mystery, Action, and a Genre Tug-of-War
The Gorge attempts to weave an intricate mix of action, horror, and romance.
Levi (Miles Teller) and Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy) are elite snipers stationed on opposite watchtowers, monitoring a deep ravine shrouded in mystery.
When circumstances force them to descend into the gorge, they uncover more than they bargained for.
It’s an intriguing setup, but execution is a different matter. The film jumps between high-octane action sequences and slower character-driven moments, which some critics feel creates an uneven rhythm.
The first act spends an extended amount of time fleshing out Levi and Drasa’s backstories, yet those details don’t always pay off in meaningful ways.
Another point of contention is the gorge itself. With a name like The Gorge, audiences might expect an extended, tension-filled exploration of the location’s ominous depths.
Instead, much of the film unfolds outside the gorge, making its central mystery feel somewhat underutilised.
Critical Divide: A Pulse-Pounding Thriller or a Confused Mess?
The Gorge has sparked a clear divide between audiences and critics. On one hand, there’s praise for its throwback approach—a big-budget, pulpy action movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Derrickson, known for Sinister and The Black Phone, crafts a film that harks back to an era when mid-budget genre movies flourished.
However, not everyone is convinced. Some reviews call out its uneven pacing and underdeveloped character arcs.
The film’s first act, in particular, has been criticised as sluggish, bogging viewers down with unnecessary backstory before the real action kicks in.
Meanwhile, TechRadar outright called the movie a ‘flop,’ citing its underwhelming execution compared to more tightly constructed survival horror films.
The genre-blending ambition is evident, but whether the film juggles those elements successfully is up for debate.
The performances, however, seem to be one of The Gorge’s strongest points.
Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy bring a natural charisma that makes even the weaker moments engaging.
Taylor-Joy’s presence, in particular, helps ground the film’s more outlandish moments, adding a layer of intrigue to Drasa’s motivations.
Where Does It Fit in Apple TV+’s Strategy?
Beyond the film itself, The Gorge signals Apple TV+’s increasing commitment to tentpole streaming releases.
While the platform has focused heavily on prestige television, it has struggled to carve out a clear identity in the movie landscape.
Unlike Netflix, which dominates through sheer quantity, Apple is taking a different route—fewer films, bigger investments, and a push for quality over volume.
But with The Gorge, there’s a lingering question: is commercial success enough?
Streaming platforms are in an era where long-term engagement matters just as much as initial viewership.
A movie’s ability to spark cultural conversation, generate memes, and sustain relevance weeks after release is what truly defines its impact. And on that front, The Gorge still has work to do.
Does It Live Up to the Hype?
The numbers suggest that The Gorge has found an audience. But will it be remembered as a standout Apple TV+ title, or will it fade into the ever-expanding catalogue of streaming content?
For those seeking an action-driven spectacle with charismatic leads, The Gorge delivers.
But for viewers craving depth, or a more refined narrative structure, there might be better options elsewhere.
Either way, Apple’s strategy of fewer but bigger releases is paying off—at least in terms of getting people talking.
Whether The Gorge remains in that conversation a month from now is another story entirely.
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