In the bustling world of cinema, where trends come and go, Dakota Fanning is currently experiencing a remarkable resurgence in her career. However, amidst this exciting phase, one of her most underrated films is on the verge of losing its free streaming access—an event that may surprise many.
Directed by Paul McGuigan, known for his work on Lucky Number Slevin, the film Push features Fanning in the role of Cassie Holmes, a 13-year-old girl who is the offspring of the most powerful psychic held captive by a shadowy organization known as The Division. This organization is notorious for rounding up individuals with special abilities, transforming them into soldiers for their own purposes. In her quest to free her father and uncover a woman connected to a revolutionary drug that could shift the balance in the battle between psychics and The Division, Cassie enlists the help of Nick, portrayed by Chris Evans. Nick is an untrained telekinetic with a troubled history related to the very organization they seek to evade.
Fast forward nearly 17 years since Push made its theatrical debut, and the film is set to exit its current free streaming platform, Tubi, starting January 31. After this date, it will only be accessible through services like Hoopla and Kanopy, which are typically associated with public libraries.
The cast also includes talents such as Camilla Belle, Djimon Hounsou, Ming-Na Wen, and Cliff Curtis. Upon its initial release, the film received a lukewarm reception from critics who found its plot convoluted and suggested that it borrowed too heavily from similar works, such as Heroes and Fringe. While audience reactions were mixed—resulting in a box office gross of $48.9 million against a $38 million production budget—the film has since cultivated a dedicated following over the years.
One reason for this belated appreciation can be attributed to Chris Evans, who stars in Push. The film was released during a pivotal time in Evans's career, straddling his earlier appearances in the Fantastic Four series and his iconic portrayal of Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Following Push, in addition to his superhero roles, Evans ventured into other genres, including the action-comedy The Losers, which has similarly gained a second wave of fandom.
The timing of Push's departure from Tubi is particularly intriguing given both Fanning and Evans’s current trajectories. Evans, who famously retired his Captain America persona in Avengers: Endgame, is poised to reprise this beloved role once again in Avengers: Doomsday, while also returning to his roots as Johnny Storm in the upcoming multiverse-themed Deadpool & Wolverine.
For her part, Dakota Fanning is enjoying one of the busiest periods of her career. After receiving critical acclaim for her role in the period thriller The Alienist, she reunited with Denzel Washington in The Equalizer 3. Furthermore, her talent has not gone unnoticed, as she earned both Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her performance in Netflix's Ripley. Notably, she and her sister Elle, who is also an Oscar-nominated actress, have established a production company that has produced numerous documentary miniseries and the forthcoming Apple TV drama, Margo's Got Money Troubles.
As the popularity of Evans remains steadfast and Fanning continues to capture mainstream attention, it raises an interesting question: will any streaming service step up to acquire Push after its exit from Tubi? Since Lionsgate owns the film, Starz appears to be a plausible candidate if they decide to reintroduce it to a pay-to-watch platform. Nevertheless, considering its previous presence on a free streaming site, Push might find its way to various platforms, ranging from Amazon Prime Video with advertisements to The Roku Channel.
For now, those interested in revisiting this sci-fi thriller or discovering it for the first time will need to consider renting or purchasing the film digitally.
Release Date: February 6, 2009
Runtime: 111 minutes
Director: Paul McGuigan
Writers: Paul McGuigan, Dakota Fanning
Budget: $38 million
Studio(s): Summit Entertainment
Distributor(s): Summit Entertainment
