Stephen King Offers Mixed Response to The Fall Guy’s Fun Factor (2024)

Acclaimed horror icon Stephen Kingquestions the sense of fun (or lack thereof) in the recent action outing The Fall Guy. Despite underperforming at the box office, The Fall Guy has fared well with critics and audiences, who mostly seem to agree on one thing: The Fall Guy is really, really fun. Loosely based on the 1980s ABC series of the same name, which starred Lee Majors, Douglas Barr, and Heather Thomas as a trio of Hollywood stunt performers, The Fall Guy stars Ryan Gosling as a down-and-out stuntman who must find the missing star of his ex-girlfriend's blockbuster film.

Given Gosling's recent hilarious performance as Ken in Greta Gerwig's Barbie, one could assume that watching him in an action-packed and explosion-filled flick would be incredibly exciting. And, to be fair, King didn't say The Fall Guy wasn't a fun ride. In response to author Linwood Barclay's post that "Audiences may not have flocked to it in theaters but The Fall Guy is great fun," King rebutted: "Yes, definitely fun, but great fun? Perhaps not."

King's comment sparked mixed reactions, with some agreeing and others disagreeing (a few users were even unaware of what The Fall Guy even is). However, the general sentiment about the film remains overwhelmingly positive, with many users on X praising it as a fun-filled movie ("escapist fun," "a wild ride," and "peak" are just a few of the phrases used) with stellar performances from its leads (Gosling and Emily Blunt). Critics and social media users have noted the film's impressive stunts as one of The Fall Guy's standout components. X user @thetdenz calls the film "a beautiful love letter to action, stunt work, explosions, and filmmaking..."

Unfortunately, the film's box office performance has not matched these positive reviews, grossing just over $145 million worldwide since its May 3 premiere.

The Fall Guy is 'A Love Letter to the Stunt Community'

The Fall Guy

PG-13

Action

Comedy

Drama

4/5

The Fall Guy is an action thriller from Bullet Train and Deadpool 2 director David Leitch. Ryan Gosling stars as a stuntman who is forced to find a missing movie star, investigate a conspiracy, and repair his relationship with the love of his life. The film was written by Drew Pearce and inspired by the 1980s TV series of the same name.

Release Date

May 3, 2024

Director

David Leitch

Cast

Hannah Waddingham , Emily Blunt , Ryan Gosling , Aaron Taylor-Johnson , Teresa Palmer , Stephanie Hsu , Lee Majors , Winston Duke

Runtime

1hr 54min

Main Genre

Action

Writers

Drew Pearce , Glen A. Larson

Studio

87North, Arcana, Entertainment 360

During the movie's premiere, Blunt also praised stunt performers, noting that "they are the unsung heroes of our industry." This take echoes comments from Gosling, who recently shared:

"Obviously, this ['The Fall Guy'] is a love letter to the stunt community. They are the hardest-working people in show business. They risk more than anyone. This movie is just a giant campaign to get stunts an Oscar."

It's no surprise The Fall Guy celebrates the stunt community. Director David Leitch is a veteran stuntperson, having worked on films, including Oceans Eleven, Fight Club, and I Am Legend, in that capacity before turning to directing with 2014's John Wick (which he co-directed alongside Chad Stahelski). His directorial efforts also include Deadpool 2 and Bullet Train.

The Fall Guy is currently available in theaters and on digital. It follows Gosling's Colt Seavers as he's working on his ex-girlfriend's (Blunt) directorial debut, an action film. Things get complicated when he uncovers a conspiracy surrounding the movie's lead actor (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). Hannah Waddingham, Teresa Palmer, Stephanie Hsu, and Winston Duke round out the cast.

Will this love letter translate to Oscar recognition for stunt performers? Only time will tell.