Scarlett Johansson’s Overlooked Sci-Fi Gem Is Suddenly a Streaming Sensation
Once overshadowed by her Marvel blockbusters, Scarlett Johansson’s 2014 sci-fi Lucy is roaring back as a streaming hit on HBO Max, pulling in a fresh wave of viewers. The brain-bending actioner is finding its biggest audience yet.
Scarlett Johansson has an old sci-fi banger quietly tearing it up on streaming again. Remember 2014's 'Lucy'? It did big business back in the day, then kind of receded as Johansson kept stacking blockbusters. Now it has a whole new wave of viewers on HBO Max.
So, how big is this comeback?
As of January 30, 2026, 'Lucy' is sitting at #4 on the HBO Max worldwide streaming movies chart, per FlixPatrol, with a popularity score of 192. It’s trailing a couple of buzzy titles and edging out some newer releases. FlixPatrol’s data isn’t perfectly comprehensive, but it’s a solid snapshot of what people are actually watching right now.
- Sinners — 463
- One Battle After Another — 266
- 33 Photos from the Ghetto — 201
- Lucy — 192
- Death of a Unicorn — 185
- Legion — 148
- Blink Twice — 139
- Alien: Romulus — 138
- Blackhat — 138
- Fighting — 110
Quick refresher: what is 'Lucy' again?
Johansson plays Lucy Miller, who gets forced into smuggling a synthetic drug called CPH4. That stuff leaks into her system, and suddenly she’s unlocking wild abilities that push way past normal human limits. Morgan Freeman co-stars as Professor Samuel Norman, Choi Min-sik is the formidable Mr. Jang, Amr Waked plays cop Pierre Del Rio, and Pilou Asbaek shows up as Richard.
Who made it
French filmmaker Luc Besson wrote and directed it. You know his deal: 'La Femme Nikita', 'Leon: The Professional', 'The Fifth Element', 'The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc', 'The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec', 'Dogman'. Love him or not, the guy shoots with pace and style.
How it landed the first time
'Lucy' was a full-on commercial hit, pulling in $469 million worldwide. Critics were mixed-to-positive — it sits at 67% on Rotten Tomatoes — and the general consensus was basically: thrilling ride, big swings, do not overthink the science.
'Lucy is a brash, breezy and breathlessly paced thriller, with a high-concept plot that falls apart the moment you start thinking about it. But Besson's camera moves so fast that you rarely get the chance.'
- Paul Whitington, The Irish Independent
Bottom line: a decade later, the movie’s pulpy, high-concept rush still plays — and right now, a lot of people are pressing play.