George R.R. Martin's Box Office Bomb Finds Redemption on Streaming

George R.R. Martin's name is synonymous with Game of Thrones, the cultural phenomenon that dominated television for nearly a decade. But his latest project took a very different path to success. In the Lost Lands, a fantasy film starring Dave Bautista and Milla Jovovich, crashed spectacularly at the box office last year. Now, it's experiencing an unexpected resurrection on streaming platforms, proving that sometimes a film just needs to find its audience in a different venue.

A Catastrophic Theatrical Run

The numbers tell a brutal story. Despite costing over $50 million to produce and featuring recognizable stars alongside Martin's prestigious name, In the Lost Lands earned only $6 million at the box office. Critics savaged it with a 24% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences were slightly more forgiving at 45%—still a failing grade by any measure. The film limped out of theaters as one of fantasy's most notable recent failures, joining the graveyard of high-budget genre films that never connected with audiences.

Based on Martin's short story of the same name, the film was directed and co-written by Paul W.S. Anderson, who crafted the script alongside Constantin Werner. Anderson brings significant genre credentials, having directed the Resident Evil franchise starring Jovovich. Werner's resume includes writing and directing 2008's Death Race with Jason Statham, plus work on its sequels and the Resident Evil films.

Despite this experienced team and Martin's source material, something didn't click theatrically. Whether it was marketing missteps, poor timing, or simply a story better suited to smaller screens, In the Lost Lands became another cautionary tale about the unpredictability of theatrical releases.

Streaming Success Changes the Narrative

But the story didn't end with empty theater seats. In the Lost Lands has found a second life on streaming platforms, becoming a surprise hit in multiple countries. Nordic audiences in Norway, Finland, and Sweden have particularly embraced the film, driving strong viewership numbers that paint a very different picture from its theatrical disaster. In America, it's available on Hulu, where it continues attracting curious viewers drawn by Martin's name and the fantasy genre's enduring appeal.

This streaming success demonstrates an increasingly common phenomenon: films that fail theatrically can still find substantial audiences when viewers can watch from home. Without the commitment of buying tickets and traveling to a theater, audiences are more willing to take chances on titles that received poor reviews. The convenience of streaming also allows word-of-mouth to build gradually rather than requiring immediate opening weekend success.

For In the Lost Lands, this second chance matters. While it won't erase the financial losses from its theatrical run, strong streaming performance can validate the creative vision and prove there was an audience for the film—just not necessarily in movie theaters. It also keeps Martin's non-Game of Thrones work in the cultural conversation.

Martin's Upcoming Projects

Despite In the Lost Lands' rocky journey, Martin remains one of the most sought-after names in genre entertainment. His next series premieres in less than two weeks: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms debuts on HBO Max on January 18th. Based on Martin's short stories about the wandering knight Dunk and his squire Egg, the series represents a more intimate corner of Westeros than the grand political machinations of Game of Thrones.

Martin has expressed particular fondness for these stories, and HBO shares his enthusiasm—the series earned a Season 2 renewal before the first episode even aired. The shorter, character-focused tales might provide a refreshing change of pace from the sprawling epics audiences expect from this universe.

Following that, House of the Dragon Season 3 will arrive sometime in May or June, continuing the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. Recent confirmation that Season 4 will conclude the prequel series suggests the showrunners have a clear endgame in mind, hopefully avoiding the narrative struggles that plagued Game of Thrones' final season.

The Takeaway

In the Lost Lands proves that theatrical failure isn't necessarily the end of a film's journey. In today's entertainment landscape, streaming platforms offer legitimate second chances for projects that struggle in theaters. While the film's box office performance was undeniably disastrous, its streaming success in multiple countries demonstrates that audiences exist for Martin's fantasy worlds beyond Westeros.

Whether this streaming redemption translates to future Martin adaptations getting greenlit remains to be seen. But for now, In the Lost Lands serves as a reminder that in the streaming age, even the biggest bombs can find their audience eventually.