Dwayne Johnson’s 2013 Crime Thriller Is Taking Over Tubi – What’s Behind Its Surprising Success?

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has experienced the highs and lows of Hollywood, with a career that has spanned action blockbusters, wrestling comebacks, and more. While his recent ventures, such as Black Adam and Red One, have met with mixed reception, Johnson’s legacy remains largely untarnished. However, a lesser-known 2013 film, Snitch, has seen a surprising resurgence in popularity on the free streaming platform Tubi, gaining attention from new audiences and making waves in the charts.

A Forgotten Thriller Rediscovered

Snitch, directed by Ric Roman Waugh (known for his work on Angel Has Fallen and Greenland), originally hit theaters on February 22, 2013. The film saw Johnson stepping into a less typical role for him: a father named John Matthews, who goes undercover for the DEA to reduce the prison sentence of his son, Jason (played by Rafi Gavron), who was caught up in a drug distribution case.

Upon its initial release, the film didn’t make a massive impact. Although it grossed $57.9 million worldwide, which was a solid performance given its modest $15 million budget, Snitch received mixed reviews. Critics seemed torn between appreciating Johnson’s performance and finding fault with the film’s lack of a clear direction, with some even claiming it was a poor attempt to emulate Breaking Bad.

However, now more than a decade later, Snitch is experiencing an unexpected second life. The film recently arrived on Tubi on March 1, 2025, and has quickly climbed the platform’s rankings, attracting a steady stream of viewers. According to FlixPatrol, a site that tracks streaming viewership, Snitch hit number four on Tubi’s charts on March 28, 2025, climbed to number three the next day, and remained a fixture in the top rankings as the month progressed. Even as of early April 2025, it’s still going strong in the number six spot.

What’s Behind the Resurgence?

So why is Snitch enjoying this newfound popularity? One reason may be the sheer size of Tubi’s user base, which boasts a reported 97 million monthly active users. As one of the largest ad-supported streaming services, Tubi’s wide reach means that Snitch is being discovered by a massive audience, many of whom are likely looking for new content. With Dwayne Johnson’s star power, even his lesser-known projects are bound to attract attention.

Though Snitch may not have been the blockbuster hit Johnson’s fans have come to expect, it seems to resonate with those looking for a grounded action thriller with a family-centric plot. It offers a different side of Johnson’s persona, one more focused on tension and emotional stakes than the larger-than-life action roles he’s typically known for.

The Mixed Critical Reception

Upon its initial release, Snitch earned a somewhat tepid response from critics. With a 57% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a lower 50% from top critics, the film didn’t exactly wow audiences with its depth. Some critics complained that while the film attempted to critique the complexities of drug legislation and the U.S. prison system, it ultimately became more of a showcase for Johnson’s tough-guy persona. The London Evening Standard even went so far as to say that Snitch “wants to be Breaking Bad,” but with Johnson at the center, it felt lacking.

However, some reviewers found much to praise in Johnson’s performance. Bilge Ebiri of New York Magazine wrote, “In the end, this is a movie that lives or dies on Johnson’s performance, and luckily, the actor is perfect.” His portrayal of a father willing to do whatever it takes to save his son was seen as one of the film’s strongest points, adding a personal, emotional layer to what otherwise could have been a standard action thriller.

A Surprise Success on Tubi

Though it may not be the career revitalization Johnson is hoping for, Snitch’s unexpected success on Tubi is a notable moment in his career. The platform’s free streaming model has allowed the film to find a new audience, one that might not have been familiar with the 2013 release. For fans who have followed Johnson’s journey from WWE to Hollywood, revisiting this underrated gem is a reminder of the actor’s range beyond his usual action-packed blockbusters.

With Tubi’s platform continuing to grow in popularity, there’s no telling how long Snitch will maintain its chart-topping position, but for now, Johnson’s 2013 crime thriller is enjoying a second chance to shine—albeit in a different era of his career.