Jeremy Renner’s ‘Tag’ Makes an Unexpected Streaming Comeback Eight Years Later

Streaming platforms have a unique ability to revive films that audiences may have overlooked. Occasionally, a movie that quietly exited theaters finds new life years later, surprising a fresh audience. This is precisely what is happening now on HBO Max.

Jeremy Renner’s 2018 comedy ‘Tag’ has surged to become one of the fastest-rising films on HBO Max, showing no signs of slowing down. According to the tracking site FlixPatrol, it has maintained a position in the platform’s top four for 19 consecutive days, a remarkable feat for a film that many casual viewers likely forgot about.

Starring Renner alongside Jon Hamm, Isla Fisher, Ed Helms, and Jake Johnson, ‘Tag’ follows a group of childhood friends who have kept their intense game of tag alive for decades. The film’s resurgence is largely attributed to its recent debut on HBO Max on July 17, which introduced it to a new streaming audience that missed it back in 2018.

Critics were not particularly kind to ‘Tag’ during its initial release, giving it a modest 55% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, audience reactions were slightly more favorable, awarding it a 57% Popcornmeter score and a 6.5 out of 10 on IMDb. This disparity between critical reception and audience enjoyment appears to be benefiting the film now that it has re-entered the cultural conversation.

The box office performance tells a similar story of an underdog. ‘Tag’ opened domestically with $14.9 million and eventually grossed $54 million in the U.S., a solid outcome against its $28 million budget. While it was never a blockbuster, it evidently garnered enough goodwill to keep attracting viewers years later.

Renner has also shared insights about the physically demanding nature of the shoot. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly prior to the film’s original release, he revealed that he broke both arms while filming a chair stunt. He recounted realizing something was amiss and heading straight to the hospital, later stating, “They said it was broken, so I got them wrapped up, and then I went back to work.”

This level of dedication aligns with the chaotic, competitive spirit that made ‘Tag’ resonate with friend groups watching it. Currently, it ranks just behind bigger titles like ‘The Drama,’ ‘Mortal Kombat II,’ and ‘The Strangers: Chapter 2’ on HBO Max’s top 10, but its ability to remain in the upper echelons speaks volumes about the power of word-of-mouth eight years later.

It serves as a reminder that streaming has fundamentally changed the landscape of a movie’s longevity. Did you catch ‘Tag’ back in 2018, or are you among the many viewers discovering this high-stakes game of tag for the first time on HBO Max?