Alan Ritchson’s New 103-Minute Action Revenge Thriller Is an Instant Streaming Hit

Action star Alan Ritchson has been a dominant force on streaming thanks to his Prime Video series Reacher and Netflix’s sci-fi action hit War Machine. Ritchson’s latest film, Motor City, debuted in movie theaters in July, but the one-man-army revenge thriller didn’t knock out audiences. Motor City made just $3 million during its theatrical run, according to Box Office Mojo, but the film is already enjoying a second life on digital video.

Motor City was released digitally on Aug. 26. Within days of its release, Motor City has already landed in the top 10 purchases on Prime Video (where it’s currently No. 9) and on Apple TV (where it’s No. 4), further proving that when it comes to Alan Ritchson delivering brutal beat-downs, action movie fans prefer to watch them in the comfort of their own home.

Motor City takes Ritchson’s brand of quiet action hero to the next level

Ritchson has carved out a niche as Hollywood’s most lovable big guy, a brand he continues in Motor City. Ritchson plays John Miller, a “working-class romantic” who’s framed by a ruthless gangster after falling for the wrong woman. After spending years in prison, Miller returns with only one mission: revenge. In Motor City, action — not talk — is the name of the game. According to one of the film’s stars, Motor City only has “five lines of dialogue.”

Here’s the film’s official synopsis:

In 1970s Detroit, John Miller falls for a local gangster’s girl and lands in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Life ruined, Miller plots revenge against the man who took his girl away.

The following action clip offers a taste of what Motor City has to offer: guns, violence, and a driving rock ‘n’ roll score.

In addition to Ritchson, Motor City stars Shailene Woodley, Pablo Schreiber, Ben Foster, and Ben McKenzie. Jack White of The White Stripes fame also has a cameo. The film was written by action-focused scribe Chad St. John (London Has Fallen, Peppermint) and directed by Potsy Ponciroli (Greedy People, Old Henry).

In an interview with Polygon about the making of Motor City, Ponciroli said that there’s one scene that viewers should stick around for: “The elevator fight. Everybody has to see [it],” he said. “[When we did our premiere,] you could literally feel the entire theater tense up during it. That’s the big moment.”

Is Motor City any good?

Image: IFC

Motor City wasn’t a huge hit with critics — the movie has a 63% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes — but it sounds like regardless of the critical reception, Ritchson’s action movie star power is drawing in home video audiences regardless.

In Polygon’s review of the film, critic Terry Terrones said the dialogue-light approach works for Motor City, likening it to movies such as John Wick and Mad Max: Fury Road, where the action does the talking.

“Motor City isn’t difficult to follow. It’s simply observant,” Terrones wrote. “There’s a difference between making a movie confusing and making audiences participate. Ponciroli isn’t withholding information to create a puzzle box. He’s asking viewers to engage with film as a visual medium.

“That’s something some of the best action movies have always understood. Mad Max: Fury Road never stops to explain the Citadel’s social structure or what “Witness me!” means. George Miller teaches audiences that world through costumes, rituals, and behavior until everything clicks into place naturally. The original John Wick works the same way. We understand John’s reputation less because someone tells us about it than because everyone around him reacts as though they already know exactly who he is.”

Motor City is available for rental and digital purchase on platforms such as Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango.