Sun Aug 03 13:30:00 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
**”Dolittle” Finds Second Life on Netflix Despite Initial Flop, Downey Jr. Returns to Marvel**
HOLLYWOOD, CA – Robert Downey Jr.’s 2020 film “Dolittle” is experiencing an unexpected resurgence on Netflix, currently ranking among the platform’s Top 10 movies. This comes despite the film’s initial critical and commercial failure upon its theatrical release.
Following his iconic role as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Dolittle” marked Downey Jr.’s first major project post-“Endgame.” The family adventure, based on Hugh Lofting’s “The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle,” stars Downey Jr. as a reclusive veterinarian who can communicate with animals. While boasting a star-studded cast, the film was met with harsh reviews, earning a dismal 15% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. Its global box office earnings of $251.5 million fell short of its hefty $175 million production budget, solidifying its status as a box office bomb.
However, audiences have seemingly embraced the film on Netflix, giving it a 76% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes. This suggests that the film has found a receptive audience among casual viewers on streaming platforms, perhaps benefiting from lower expectations.
“Dolittle’s” streaming success comes amidst a career upswing for Downey Jr. He recently won an Oscar for his role in Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed “Oppenheimer.” Furthermore, he is slated to return to the Marvel universe, stepping into the role of Doctor Doom in the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday”.
This unexpected revival of “Dolittle” highlights the power of streaming to provide films with a second chance, even those that initially struggled with critics and at the box office. It also underscores the enduring appeal of Downey Jr., who is poised to reclaim his superhero status in a new and exciting way.
First Piper 