Magic Mike’s Last Dancewas given a surprising upgrade last year when it was announced that the movie would not be making its debut on HBO Max as planned but would instead be given a cinematic release. This weekend saw Channing Tatum’s Florida stripper returning for one final routine, but it seems that the third movie in the Magic Mike franchise has not conjured up the critical reaction hoped for, although it appears to have pleased the majority of those who have ventured out to see it.
When compared to the rest of theMagic Mikefranchise, which itself has never attempted to be some highbrow drama,Magic Mike’s Last Danceis the lowest rated of the franchise among critics. The original movie scored a surprising 78% onRotten Tomatoes, while the sequel,Magic Mike XXL,dipped to 65% but retained its “fresh” rating. In contrast, audiences have actually rated the latest outing as the best of the trilogy for now. The film currently sits at 46% with critics, while it maintains a 75% score with audiences.
Of course, there is still a long way to go, and that could change over time as more reviews come in, but it is clear that with a projected $8 million opening weekend, many people will be waiting until that HBO Max release date to see Mike strutting his stuff one more time. As a movie initially destined to be a streaming exclusive, that would not be the most surprising outcome.
Related:Magic Mike’s Last Dance Review: A Hip-Thrusting Threequel That Somehow Works Thanks to Channing Tatum
Magic Mike’s Last Dance Is Not Just a Cash-Grab Sequel
While the story of Channing Tatum’s stripper Mike doesn’t seem to have much depth on the surface, the third movie was made with the idea that it had to bring something different to the franchise andcouldn’t simply retread old ground. That is something writer Reid Carolin previously said was imperative to makingMagic Mike’s Last Dance. Carolin explained:
“There’s no way we’d be doing a third movie just because it pays. There’s no way we’d do a third movie just because someone called us up and said they’d pay. We had this weird idea in our minds that makes it a completely different film from the first or second one, in terms of genre and everything else about it. We have total artistic say in it. We’re exploring territory that we always wanted to explore in a film. “Magic Mike” gives us the ability to do it. That’s what fun about having the franchise you own.”
It seems that audiences have so far appreciated the return of Mike for one more outing, but whether that word of mouth will be enough to seeMagic Mike’s Last Dancepick up its takings over the next few weeks is yet to be seen. Irrespective of the movie’s theatrical performance, there is no doubt that Mike will get to really play to his audience when the film makes its debut on HBO Max at a later date.
