'True Romance' Joining Netflix 33 Years After Box Office Failure
Tony Scott's beloved 1993 thriller True Romance may not have been a massive box office success upon release, but the film will now introduce itself to a whole new generation when it arrives on Netflix later this month.
Written by Quentin Tarantino and starring Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, and Val Kilmer, True Romance tells the story of a man who falls in love with a prostitute and turns to crime in order to protect her from the dangerous people around her.
The film received immense acclaim from critics, with many praising Scott's direction and the two compelling lead performances from Slater and Arquette. While it didn't manage to replicate this success commercially, it became a cult classic that still has plenty of fans today.
Scott had been on an undeniable hot streak in the '90s before True Romance, with projects such as Days of Thunder and The Last Boy Scout already under his belt. They may not have been massive critical successes, but he was cementing himself as an auteur blockbuster filmmaker whose style became synonymous with '90s action thrillers.
True Romance was a different kind of film for Tony Scott; it was less violent and action-packed, and much more character-driven with a story that's constntly moving forward with unpredictable twists and turns. It showcases the early DNA of Quentin Tarantino, who sold the screenplay to fund his debut feature, Reservoir Dogs.
Against a reported budget of $13 million, True Romance pulled in $13.1 million at the worldwide box office (via Box Office Mojo). While it wasn't necessarily a huge profit loss, the distribution and marketing costs meant that it didn't make any money either.
Thankfully, this commercial disappointment didn't dissuade critics from rallying around this shamlessly stylish, wholly original thriller. The film currently sits at 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics consensus reading: "Fueled by Quentin Tarantino's savvy screenplay and a gallery of oddball performances, Tony Scott's True Romance is a funny and violent action jaunt in the best sense."
True Romance will arrive on Netflix in the United States on May 19, 2026. Those who can't wait to watch the film at home can buy or rent it through any major VOD service, such as Amazon Prime or Apple TV.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 3:59 AM.