How a road rage thriller became the first major film to test pandemic theaters

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 2020, the action thriller Unhinged served as a high-stakes experiment for the film industry. As the first wide theatrical release following months of pandemic-induced closures, its performance was closely watched by executives eager to see if audiences would return to cinemas, even as the film itself received mixed critical reviews.

Directed by Derrick Borte and starring Russell Crowe, Unhinged follows a woman named Rachel Flynn who becomes the target of a violent, unnamed man after a minor traffic dispute. The film’s production, which took place in Louisiana during the summer of 2019, became a focal point for the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally slated for an August 2020 release, the film’s schedule shifted repeatedly before settling on an August 21 debut in the United States, with an earlier international rollout beginning in Germany on July 16.

The film’s release was a litmus test for the exhibition sector. It was the first movie to gross over $1 million in a single weekend since the release of Onward in March 2020. Despite theater chains reopening, drive-in venues remained the top-performing locations for the film. By the end of its run, Unhinged had grossed $44.3 million worldwide, with $20.8 million coming from the United States and Canada. Its release strategy also challenged traditional norms; it hit premium video-on-demand platforms just 61 days after its theatrical debut, well within the standard 75-day window that usually triggers a halt in theatrical exhibition.

Critically, the film polarized reviewers. While some praised Russell Crowe’s performance as a "compulsively watchable villain," others felt the script lacked the depth required to elevate its pulpy premise. Critics often compared the film to the 1993 black comedy Falling Down, noting that while both explore themes of emasculated men seeking revenge, Unhinged leans entirely into darkness without the comedic relief. Ultimately, the film stands as a unique artifact of 2020, representing both a desperate attempt to revive the theatrical experience and a stark, violent exploration of modern rage.

The film's reception on review aggregators reflected this divide, holding a 48% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a weighted average score of 40 out of 100 on Metacritic. Despite the mixed critical reception, studio executives reportedly viewed the debut as a success, marking a pivotal moment in the industry’s attempt to rebound from the global health crisis.

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