Alexander Skarsgård’s 110-Minute Failed Fantasy Franchise-Starter Gets a Second Life on Streaming

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Alexander Skarsgård on the red carpet outside

Published Jan 31, 2026, 9:28 AM EST

Rahul Malhotra is a Weekend News Writer for Collider. From Francois Ozon to David Fincher, he'll watch anything once.

He has been writing for Collider for over two years, and has covered everything from Marvel to the Oscars, and Marvel at the Oscars. He also writes obsessively about the box office, charting the many hits and misses that are released weekly, and how their commercial performance shapes public perception. In his time at Collider, he has also helped drive diversity by writing stories about the multiple Indian film industries, with a goal to introduce audiences to a whole new world of cinema.

Swing and a miss > measured victory. Also, #JusticeForHan. (He/Him).

Although Alexander Skarsgård's personal awards campaign didn't result in an Oscar nomination, he has reason to celebrate this week. The actor was in contention for an Academy Award nomination for his performance in the critically acclaimed dark comedy film Pillion, which continues to hold a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. He did, however, score nods at the British Independent Film Awards and the Gotham Independent Film Awards. Skarsgård's career hasn't been limited to independent cinema; he has headlined numerous studio movies over the years, with the biggest by far being The Legend of Tarzan. Intended as a franchise-starter, the action-adventure film underperformed at the box office and received mostly negative reviews. However, it recently saw a spike in viewership at home.

According to FlixPatrol, The Legend of Tarzan was one of the most-watched movies on the domestic Prime Video charts this week, when the leaderboard was topped by the newly released action-comedy The Wrecking Crew. The Legend of Tarzan served as a reboot of the classic pop culture property, and was directed by David Yates, the filmmaker behind four blockbuster Harry Potter films. The film also featured Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson, Djimon Hounsou, and Christoph Waltz. Despite the stacked cast, the film grossed only around $350 million at the worldwide box office against a reported budget of $180 million. The movie was criticized for its writing and visual effects, although it received some praise for its grounded tone and mature themes. The Legend of Tarzan now holds a 36% score on Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, "The Legend of Tarzan has more on its mind than many movies starring the classic character, but that isn't enough to make up for its generic plot or sluggish pace."

Alexander Skarsgård and Margot Robbie Turned Out Alright

Following the film's failure, Yates returned to the Harry Potter franchise and directed all three Fantastic Beasts spin-off movies. His most recent film was the poorly received Netflix crime-comedy Pain Hustlers, starring Emily Blunt and Chris Evans. Skarsgård has garnered acclaim over the years for his performances in HBO's Succession and Big Little Lies, and the revenge epic The Northman. Robbie hit the big leagues a few years ago as the star and producer in Barbie. She will soon be seen in the lead role of Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights, also featuring recent Oscar nominee Jacob Elordi. You can watch The Legend of Tarzan on Prime Video in the United States. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.