Once dismissed as “entirely soulless” and a box office flop, Angelina Jolie’s 2002 romantic comedy Life or Something Like It is experiencing a surprising resurgence — this time as a Netflix sensation.
The film, which stars Jolie as Lanie Kerrigan, a glamorous Seattle news reporter forced to confront the emptiness of her seemingly perfect life, has found a new audience more than two decades after its initial release. Despite a dismal $16.9 million global box office take against a hefty $40 million budget, the film is currently riding high at #3 on Netflix’s Top 10 chart, racking up over 5.5 million views in just one week.
Directed by Stephen Herek and co-starring Edward Burns and Tony Shalhoub, Life or Something Like It follows Lanie’s journey of self-discovery after a street prophet warns her she’s living a meaningless life — and predicts she has only one week left to live. As his other predictions begin to come true, Lanie is forced to re-evaluate everything she thought she knew about success, love, and fulfillment.
Despite its feel-good premise, the film was savaged by critics upon release. The New York Post called it “schmaltzy,” “shallow,” and “entirely soulless,” while the Observer likened its depiction of broadcast journalism to “a Pillsbury bake-off.” With a Rotten Tomatoes score of just 28% based on 121 reviews, few would have predicted a revival.
Yet here it is — streaming success proving that audience tastes can evolve and that even the most unlikely titles can find a second chance.
Its renewed popularity has sparked conversations about Jolie’s early-2000s filmography and the broader phenomenon of forgotten films finding new life through streaming platforms. With original titles like The Life List and Meet the Khumalos currently holding the top two Netflix spots, Jolie’s underdog romcom holding its own at #3 has raised a few eyebrows.
Whether it’s nostalgia, curiosity, or just viewers looking for a different kind of romantic comedy, Life or Something Like It appears to be enjoying its moment — proving that sometimes, all a movie needs is a second shot.