Everyone expected big things from the dynamic duo of Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat when it was announced that they would be featured together in Jewel Thief.
Given the suspense heist plot of the film, the trailers and promos of the film created a lot of hype and having Sidharth Anand as the producer further elevated the hype and anticipation for the film.
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Though it was difficult to put on an underwhelming show with such a stellar cast and compelling plot, the film turned out to be a disaster and received negative reviews throughout.
Viewers stated how the film was predictable and outdated despite having an outstanding cast. With the film being a one-time watch for several users, it has still managed to garner huge views in its opening week.
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Given the disastrous reviews the film got all around, it is surprising to see that the film still managed to bag the first position in the top 10 list in India.
Jewel Thief was also a part of the global top 10 non-English films from April 28 to May 4, 2025, ranking third with 8.3 million views.
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Though it is a good sign for the makers, a lot of conclusions can be drawn from the fact that despite having bad reviews, people still tuned in to watch the film.
Decent films like Kesari Chapter 2 and The Diplomat failed to reach their potential despite having great reviews as people refused to go to the theatres.
Instead, they tuned in to watch an outdated affair in Jewel Thief in the comfort of their homes. It shows how OTT attracts more audience due to the comfort they provide for the viewers at their homes.
Netflix has a costly subscription, so people—especially those with a middle-class mindset—feel the need to watch everything new, no matter how bad it is, just to justify the money they’ve spent.
This is something that is making OTT films successful despite having underwhelming reviews. As Jewel Thief continues to have a dreamy run on Netflix with blockbuster views despite having disastrous reviews, it remains to be seen if the same fate rolls for the film in the upcoming weeks or not.
