Alan Ritchson’s motion comedy “Playdate” has lastly hit Prime Video, the place it instantly shot straight to the highest of the most-watched charts all over the world. Any die-hard fan of the actor ought to find time for the film, if solely to see Ritchson lastly main a high-profile launch after establishing himself as a star with “Reacher.”
It took a very long time for Ritchson to actually break by means of, having began his profession all the way in which again in 2006 when he performed Arthur Curry/Aquaman on The CW’s “Smallville.” Virtually 20 years later, the person embodied Lee Kid’s hulking hero Jack Reacher in Prime Video’s vastly in style “Reacher” and eventually ascended to true star standing. Since then, we have seen him present up in a number of massive tasks, from “Quick X” to Man Ritchie’s “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.” However he is but to top-line a real blockbuster, which can quickly occur when he stars alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in a Christmas comedy with an unbelievable premise. Within the meantime, we’ve got “Playdate,” an motion comedy through which Ritchson stars with Kevin James that has simply arrived on Prime Video.
Will this be the mission to lastly cement Ritchson as a bonafide film star? In all probability not, merely primarily based on the very fact it is a streaming film with a less-than-stellar Rotten Tomatoes rating. However it’s value preserving in your radar if just for Ritchson himself, who will lastly be capable of flex his comedic chops which he is been showcasing in all method of interview and skit throughout his post-“Reacher” press excursions (like when he sat down for a hilarious back-and-forth with Josh Horowitz). “Playdate” can be filled with motion, and as such presents some lighthearted enjoyable forward of the festive season whereas concurrently giving Ritchson one more alternative handy out some cinematic beatdowns.
Critics did not look after Playdate, however Prime Video audiences turned it into a worldwide hit anyway
“Playdate” stars Alan Ritchson as stay-at-home dad Jeff Eamon, who bonds with Kevin James’ unemployed accountant Brian Jennings throughout a playdate with their sons. Issues take an sudden flip, nonetheless, when a group of mercenaries present as much as attempt to take Jeff’s son, forcing him and Brian right into a race to flee their pursuers. As you would possibly anticipate, there’s loads of comedy that comes out of the mismatch between James and Ritchson, with the latter making gentle of his fame as a modern-day motion hero.
Sadly, critics did not reply effectively to it and collectively bestowed a 23% rating on the film over on Rotten Tomatoes. On Prime Video, nonetheless, it is a very totally different story. “Playdate” hit the service on November 12, 2025, and in accordance with viewership tracker FlixPatrol, it grew to become an prompt hit, arriving at primary on the film charts in 41 nations all over the world, together with america.
To make sure, Ritchson has loads of nice roles that are not “Reacher,” together with a career-best efficiency in faith-based drama “Odd Angels.” It feels like followers who’re hoping to see him proceed to pattern upward with high quality tasks would possibly want to attend a bit longer, however in the event you’re a Ritchson completist, “Playdate” may be value testing.
