The science fiction filmInfinite, starringMark Wahlberg, is trending on Prime Video three years after releasing on Paramount+.Reviews forInfinitewere not kind when it released on Paramount’s streaming service in 2021.Infinite, which also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sophie Cookson and Jason Mantzoukas, holds a 17% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film follows Evan McCauley, who is haunted by memories of places he’s never visited, until he discovers a secret society of “Infinites.“Evan teams up with the group to hone his skills and stop a madmanin the Antoine Fuqua-directed science fiction movie.
WhileInfinitedid not receive strong reviews upon its release, finding a second life as a trending movie on Prime Video is a silver-lining for the film. However, this doesn’t change the fact thatMark Wahlberg has terrible luck when it comes to science fiction movies. While Wahlberg has always had major successes in the action genre, his sci-fi movies have not been reviewed well by audiences. Similar toInfinite, Wahlberg’s 2008 sci-fi movieThe Happeningalso received a slew of negative reviews.
Infinite Should Have Redeemed Mark Wahlberg’s 2008 Sci-Fi Thriller The Happening
The Happening Director M. Nght Shyamalan Has Directed Many Mind-Bending Movies
In 2008,Wahlberg teamed up with acclaimed director M. Night Shyamalan forThe Happening, a science fiction film about a mysterious natural disaster that causes people to inexplicably end their lives. In the movie, Elliot, played by Wahlberg, travels with his wife, his best friend, and his best friend’s daughter into the countryside to escape a seemingly invisible killer. While its premise is intriguing and mysterious, like mostM. Night Shyamalan movies,The Happeningdid not resonate with audiences, and also has a 17% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Infinitestill struggled to connect with fans and critics, with many people even accusing the film of being a rip-off ofThe Matrix.
13 years after the negative reception toThe Happening,Infinitewas Wahlberg’s chance to redeem himself in the eyes of science fiction fans.Antoine Fuqua had previously directedacclaimed films such asTraining Day,Southpaw, and all threeEqualizermovies, so Wahlberg was working with a proven filmmaker. However,Infinitestill struggled to connect with fans and critics, with many even accusing the film of being a rip-off ofThe Matrix.
What Mark Wahlberg Has Said About His Sci-Fi Movies' Critical Failures
Wahlberg Does Not Like The Happening
AfterThe HappeningandInfinite, it seems safe to say thatWahlberg and the science fiction genre are just not a good mix. This is something that Wahlberg has likely reflected on himself, since he has not starred in another sci-fi movie sinceInfinite’snegative reception. While Wahlberg has never said anything bad aboutInfinite, he has claimed that he knowsThe Happeningis not that good. In a 2010Entertainment Weeklyinterview while promotingThe Fighteralongside Amy Adams, who supposedly auditioned for the role of Wahlberg’s wife inThe Happening, Wahlberg told her she “dodged a bullet.” He said:
We had actually had the luxury of having lunch before to talk about another movie, and it was a really bad movie that I did. She dodged the bullet. And then I was still able to…I don’t want to tell you what movie…all right,The Happening. F*** it. It is what it is. F***ing trees, man. The plants. F*** it. You can’t blame me for not wanting to try to play a science teacher. At least I wasn’t playing a cop or a crook.
In addition toThe HappeningandInfinite, Wahlberg has also starred in Tim Burton’sPlanet of the Apesand the final twoMichael BayTransformersmovies,Age of ExtinctionandThe Last Knight. While these movies are part of larger franchises, and not standalone, original stories likeThe HappeningandInfinite, they can still be categorized as science fiction films. Just likeThe HappeningandInfinite, these movies also received countless negative reviews, which further proves that Wahlberg should not pursue any more science fiction projects.
Why Infinite Is Becoming A Streaming Hit 3 Years After Its Premiere
Infinite Was Recently Added To Prime Video
While it did not receive positive reviews upon its release on Paramount+,Infiniteis now a streaming hit on Prime Video. While the negative reviews from critics still stand,Infinite’snewfound success suggests that it is actually an entertaining science fiction movie that just never found the right audience. Since the Paramount+ streaming service was launched in 2021, just months beforeInfinitewas released, it’s possible that it just didn’t find its audience at the time of release.
Infinite
Cast
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Infinite is an action sci-fi film based on a novel that follows Evan McCauley, who discovers he has skills he never took the time to learn and memories that aren’t his own. When Even is made privy to the existence of a secret group that knows why he experiences what he does, Evan is indoctrinated into the society of the “Infinites” to hone his craft. However, time is of the essence as one of the Infinites intends to destroy all life on earth to end the cycle of death and rebirth.
