13 Years Later, Chadwick Boseman’s “Inspirational” Breakout Performance Finds a New Streamer
Less than a year after his untimely passing, Chadwick Boseman looked destined to win a posthumous Academy Award for his stunning starring turn in Netflix’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. After cleaning up at SAG, Critics’ Choice, and the Golden Globes, few could’ve predicted Boseman to lose on the night, only for a truly stunning performance from Anthony Hopkins in The Father to take home the gold. This shocking loss at the Academy Awards and his starring role as the MCU’s Black Panther often dominate the discourse when discussing Boseman’s performances.
Another of his many great turns that deserves much more attention is as Jackie Robinson in writer/director Brian Helgeland‘s American sports drama, 42. One of Boseman’s first starring roles and a turn many consider his breakthrough into the mainstream, 42 doesn’t just boast Boseman near his best, but also stellar performances from the likes of Harrison Ford, Nicole Beharie, Christopher Meloni, André Holland, Lucas Black, Hamish Linklater, Ryan Merriman, and Alan Tudyk. “Certified fresh” at 81% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the movie was a hit with critics, with the consensus on the site reading, “42 is an earnest, inspirational, and respectfully told biography of an influential American sports icon, though it might be a little too safe and old-fashioned for some.”
Beginning March 1, 2026, 42 will be available to stream on Starz in the U.S. The movie is one of many acclaimed titles joining the platform next month, including Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio‘s Gangs of New York and The Wolf of Wall Street, James Cameron’s record-breaking Academy favorite Titanic, Adam Sandler‘s hilarious Happy Gilmore, and many more.
’42’ Was a Quiet Box Office Triumph
Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson at bat in 42Image via Warner Bros.
The movie might not have set the 2013 box office alight, but 42 was an undeniable success during its theatrical run. Against a production budget of $31 million, the movie returned a global haul of $97.4 million, more than tripling its investment. Split between a domestic haul of $95 million and just over $2 million from overseas markets, the movie was one of the 40 highest-grossing at the U.S. box office in 2013, and is still one of the 30 highest-grossing based on real-life events of all time.
Chadwick Boseman’s 42 will stream on Starz beginning in March. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for more of the latest streaming stories.
Release Date
April 12, 2013
Runtime
128 minutes
Director
Brian Helgeland
Writers
Brian Helgeland
Producers
Thomas Tull
