Juror #2,the latest and possibly last movie from legendary directorClint Eastwood, is set to stream globally on Max starting Friday, December 20, after alimited theatrical releaseamid some minor controversy.Nicholas Hoult(The Menu,Superman) stars as Justin Kemp, a devoted family man called to serve as a juror in a high-profile murder trial, but things take a dark turn when Kemp discovers he holds the key to swaying the jury’s decision, forcing him to confront a moral dilemma that could convict—or free—the accused. The tense drama lasts all the way to the very last frame of the movie in one of the most thought provoking endings in recent memory.
The all-star cast includesToni Collette(The Sixth Sense),J.K. Simmons(Whiplash),Chris Messina(Air),Gabriel Basso(The Night Agent),Zoey Deutch(Zombieland: Double Tap),Cedric Yarbrough(Unfrosted),Leslie Bibb(Tag), andKiefer Sutherland(24). There are also supporting roles for the likes ofAmy Aquino(Bosch) andAdrienne C. Moore(Orange Is the New Black).
Eastwood directs from a screenplay byJonathan Abrams(Escape Plan). The film is produced byEastwoodalongsideTim Moore,Jessica Meier,Adam Goodman, andMatt Skiena, withDavid M. Bernstein,Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, andJeremy Bellas executive producers.
‘Juror #2’ Should Have Been Released Theatrically
Juror #2has made a mockery of Warner Bros. widely debated release strategyfor the movie. The studio decided that the film wasn’t worth a wide release following a few middling box office performances from Eastwood’s previous work, but it secured a wide release overseas and Warner Bros. look even worse following the film’s over-performance in Europe. Released in just six European territories, the movie grossed more than $10 million from release.
The filmis said to have cost around $35 million to produce, and hasreceived mostly positive reviews.Juror #2currently sits at a “fresh” 93% approval rating on the aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, and strong word of mouth would have easily helped the prospective box office of the movie.Collider’sJeff Ewingliked the film, even if he didn’t love it, but praised the performances of the actors, claiming their efforts almost made the film work entirely on their own. He wrote:
“Hoult is remarkable, Zoey Deutch holds her own, and Collette and JK Simmons are, as usual, wonderful every time they’re onscreen. The caliber of performances, smart cinematography, and some excellent directorial choices elevate the material to work far better than it should.”
Juror #2will stream on Max from December 20.
A family man serving as a juror in a high-profile murder trial faces a harrowing moral dilemma when he realizes he might be responsible for the victim’s death. As his internal struggle intensifies, he must decide whether to influence the jury’s verdict to save himself or seek justice for the accused.
