Anya Taylor-Joy’s The Gorge Remains a Streaming Hit on Apple TV+

Audience habits on streaming platforms can often defy expectations. Nearly two years after its debut, the sci-fi romance thriller The Gorge holds the number nine spot on Apple TV‘s film charts. The ongoing interest points to the drawing power of lead star Anya Taylor-Joy.

Taylor-Joy gained widespread recognition through Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit before taking roles in The Menu and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. She also voiced Princess Peach in the Mario movies, which surpassed 2 billion dollars globally. That track record helps explain why even her quieter releases continue to draw viewers.

What Is The Gorge About?

In The Gorge, Taylor-Joy stars alongside Miles Teller as rival snipers stationed on opposite sides of a vast chasm. Teller portrays Levi Kane, a former U.S. Marine tasked with guarding the western tower. Taylor-Joy plays Drasa, an operative linked to the Kremlin who watches over the eastern post. Both receive strict instructions never to contact one another across the gap, an order they inevitably defy as threats emerge from the depths below. The marketing tagline summarized the stakes directly:

“The world’s most dangerous secret lies between them”

Scott Derrickson, known for Doctor Strange, The Black Phone, and Sinister, directed the feature. Zach Dean, who worked on Fast X, Deadfall, and The Tomorrow War, penned the script. Musicians Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross composed the original score.

Critical Reception and Apple TV Popularity

The film debuted straight to Apple TV on February 14, 2025, drawing mixed feedback from reviewers. Metacritic logged an average rating of 57, while Rotten Tomatoes recorded a 62 percent approval rating alongside a stronger 74 percent audience score. Several critics highlighted the chemistry between the leads and the unique blend of genres, though others found the action sequences predictable.

Unanswered questions within the story, including the identity of the snipers’ employers and what lurks inside the ravine, have kept viewers talking. Taylor-Joy’s presence on Apple TV extends beyond the film as well. She also leads the Wednesday crime drama Lucky, which currently ranks as the platform’s third most-watched series behind Ted Lasso and Silo, placing it ahead of Widow’s Bay.

Source: Polygon