Will this be the project to finally cement Ritchson as a bonafide movie star? Probably not, simply based on the fact it’s a streaming movie with a less-than-stellar Rotten Tomatoes score. But it is worth keeping on your radar if only for Ritchson himself, who will finally be able to flex his comedic chops which he’s been showcasing in all manner of interview and skit during his post-“Reacher” press tours (like when he sat down for a hilarious back-and-forth with Josh Horowitz<\/a>). “Playdate” is also packed with action, and as such offers some lighthearted fun ahead of the festive season while simultaneously giving Ritchson yet another opportunity to hand out some cinematic beatdowns.<\/p>\n Read more: 12 ’90s Movies You Won’t Believe Are Real<\/a><\/p>\n Critics didn’t care for Playdate, but Prime Video audiences turned it into a global hit anyway Benjamin Pajak’s Lucas, Kevin James’ Brian, Alan Ritchson’s Jeff, and Banks Pierce’s CJ walk away from an explosion in Playdate – Prime Video<\/p>\n “Playdate” stars Alan Ritchson as stay-at-home dad Jeff Eamon, who bonds with Kevin James’ unemployed accountant Brian Jennings during a playdate with their sons. Things take an unexpected turn, however, when a team of mercenaries show up to try to take Jeff’s son, forcing him and Brian into a race to escape their pursuers. As you might expect, there’s plenty of comedy that comes out of the mismatch between James and Ritchson, with the latter making light of his reputation as a modern day action hero.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, critics didn’t respond well to it and collectively bestowed a 23% score on the movie over on Rotten Tomatoes<\/a>. On Prime Video, however, it’s a very different story. “Playdate” hit the service on November 12, 2025, and according to viewership tracker FlixPatrol<\/a>,\u00a0it became an instant hit, arriving at number one on the movie charts in 41 countries around the world, including the United States.<\/p>\n To be sure, Ritchson has plenty of great roles that aren’t “Reacher,”<\/a> including a career-best performance in faith-based drama “Ordinary Angels.” It sounds like fans who are hoping to see him continue to trend upward with quality projects might need to wait a bit longer, but if you’re a Ritchson completist, “Playdate” might be worth checking out.<\/p>\n If you’re looking for the easiest way to keep up with all the major movie and TV news, why not sign up to our free newsletter<\/a>? You can also add us as a preferred search source<\/a> on Google.<\/p>\n![\"Benjamin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/a62f49a1f2e7ef16c20a5ef601467f27.jpeg\"\/)
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