Gerard Butler continues to be a fixture of Hollywood movies. These days, Butler is best known as an action star. He recently appeared inDen of Thieves 2: Pantera(2025), with past action flicks includingKandahar(2023),Plane(2023), and theHas Fallenfranchise, among many others. Prior to leaning into his action hero persona, however, Butler was also a common sight in romantic comedy movies.
After a string ofButler action movies, includingReign of Fire(2002) and300(2006), 2007’sP.S. I Love Youmarked one of the actor’s first romantic comedies, with the movie featuring him starring opposite Hilary Swank. He would go on to appear in rom-coms likeThe Bounty Hunter(2010) andPlaying for Keeps(2012). One of Butler’s biggest outings in the romantic comedy space, however, arrived in 2009, and the movie is now experiencing a resurgence in popularity on streaming.
The Ugly Truth Is A Streaming Hit
Gerard Butler’s 2009 Rom-Com Is Dominating Hulu
The Ugly Truthhas become a major success on Hulu more than 15 years after it was first released. Directed by Robert Luketic, the film features Katherine Heigl as Abby Richter, an uptight morning show producer who takes control of a segment all about modern relationships. Butler plays the role of Mike Chadway, the segment’s misogynistic host. ThoughThe Ugly Truthmay not have fared well with critics and was almost universally panned,it was a major box office success, grossing $205 million worldwide.
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Now, new data fromHulureveals that, as of writing,The Ugly Truthranks as the sixth most popular movie on the streaming service. The romantic comedy beats movies likePremonition(2007),The Truman Show(1998), and another rom-com withThe Proposal(2009).The Ugly Truthfalls short of other titles likeLonglegs(2024),Force of Nature: The Dry 2(2024), andMonster Hunter(2020), withAnora(2024) occupying the top position. Check out the full top 10 list below:
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What The Ugly Truth’s Streaming Success Means For Gerard Butler
Butler Continues To Be An Audience Draw
OnRotten Tomatoes,The Ugly Truthhas a critics' score of only 14%, with reviews criticizing the film for its abundance of rom-com clichés and by-the-numbers script. The audience score, however, is 60%, and it’s clear from the movie’s box office that the film was far more well-received by general moviegoers. The same can be said for many Butler movies. Though there are certainly titles that break through critically,Butler is an actor who is a draw for audiences, and his face onThe Ugly Truth’s Hulu tile could be enough to get users to click on it.
Den of Thieves 2: Panterajust recently released in theaters, and, with upcoming movies likeGreenland: MigrationandNight Has Fallen, Butler continues to be very active as an actor. An added bonus forThe Ugly Truthis that it’s a romantic comedy, a genre that doesn’t really exist theatrically anymore. While Butler may not have any rom-coms on the horizon,The Ugly Truth’s streaming success suggests there is still interest in the genre when it features the right stars.
The Ugly Truth
Cast
The Ugly Truth is a romantic comedy that delves into the battle of the sexes, centering on a pragmatic television producer who reluctantly collaborates with an uncouth relationship expert. The film explores themes of romance and the differences in gender perspectives on love and relationships.
