Why Is ‘Interceptor’ the No. 1 Movie on Netflix? ‘I’m Just as Confused as Everyone Else,’ Says Director Matthew Reilly

variety.com:

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorSPOILER WARNING: THIS STORY CONTAINS DISCUSSION OF MAJOR STORYLINES AND SCENES IN “INTERCEPTOR.”First-time director Matthew Reilly admits he never anticipated his feature film debut “Interceptor” to do as well as it has since its release on Netflix earlier this month.

The movie, which follows a U.S. Army captain (Elsa Pataky) who must prevent a nuclear missile attack forged by domestic terrorists in cahoots with Russians, has been No.

1 on the streamer’s top 10 list with about 50 million hours viewed.“It’s blown me away,” Reilly told me on Friday morning when I caught up with over Zoom. “I was hoping to sneak into the top 10 on Netflix, but coming in at number one everywhere?” “I don’t think anybody was expecting it to take the world by storm,” he continued before laughing. “I’m just as confused as everybody else.”Produced by Pataky’s husband Chris Hemsworth, Reilly co-wrote the screenplay with Stuart Beattie (“Obi-Wan Kenobi”).“Interceptor” takes place in one location — a floating military base in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, equipped with a defense system that has the ability to intercept nuclear missiles.

The film touches on a variety of hot button issues, including #MeToo (Pataky’s character’s military career is stalled when a five-star general is discharged after she accuses him of sexual misconduct), Russian aggression, xenophobia and right wing conspiracy theories.