Morgan Freeman Calls 'The Magic of Belle Isle' Hollywood’s Most Underrated Film

When Morgan Freeman, award‑winning actor named a little‑known 2012 western‑drama as the most underrated movie of his nine‑decade career, fans sat up straight. The revelation came during a Reddit AMAOnline on March 25, 2013, while Freeman was promoting the sci‑fi blockbuster Oblivion. In that half‑hour of rapid‑fire questions, the veteran star surprised everyone by championing The Magic of Belle Isle, a film that barely scraped $123,000 worldwide and earned a 30% Rotten Tomatoes rating.

The Reddit AMA and Freeman’s Unexpected Reveal

The AMA, hosted by the popular online community Reddit, attracted thousands of cinephiles eager to hear Freeman’s take on everything from his role in The Shawshank Redemption to his favorite on‑set meals. When the moderator asked, “Which of your movies do you think deserves a second look?”, Freeman didn’t mention the typical suspects. Instead, he pointed to the modest comedy‑drama directed by Rob Reiner, filmmaker.

“I’ve always loved westerns, and Monte’s story stuck with me,” Freeman explained. “It’s a quiet film about redemption, and I think people missed that because it wasn’t a big‑budget spectacle.” The comment sparked a flurry of up‑votes and immediate media coverage, re‑igniting interest in a movie that had largely vanished from public consciousness.

The Magic of Belle Isle: Production, Plot, and Critical Reception

Released in July 2012, The Magic of Belle Isle follows Monte Wildhorn (Freeman), a curmudgeonly western writer confined to a wheelchair after a hunting accident. He’s invited to a remote lakeside cabin owned by a young family, where the kids’ boundless imagination forces him to confront his bitterness. The screenplay, penned by Tom Kauffman, aimed for a heart‑warming tone, but critics weren’t convinced. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes logged a 30% approval rating, and Metacritic assigned a 46/100 score, labeling it “mixed‑or‑average.”

Box‑office numbers were equally grim. According to Box Office Mojo, the film grossed just $123,000 worldwide, a stark contrast to Reiner’s earlier successes like When Harry Met Sally… and The Princess Bride. The film’s limited theatrical rollout—only a handful of screens in the United States—meant many potential viewers never even heard about it.

Why Freeman Defends a Flop

Freeman’s affection for the project stems from two personal threads. First, his lifelong love of westerns gives him a soft spot for any story that taps into the genre’s mythic sense of redemption. Second, his professional rapport with Reiner goes back to the early 1990s, when the director cast Freeman in a supporting role for the TV movie Stormy Weather. “Rob’s a storyteller at heart,” Freeman said in a 2014 interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “Even when a film doesn’t click with audiences, the intention behind it matters.”

Industry insiders note that seasoned actors often champion lesser‑known works as a way to diversify their artistic legacy. For Freeman, embracing a modest, character‑driven film provides a counterbalance to his blockbuster résumé, which includes the Dark Knight trilogy and the sci‑fi epic Oblivion. “I’m not just a superhero,” he quipped during the AMA, laughing at the notion that his career is defined solely by high‑octane roles.

Critical Re‑Assessment and Fan Response

Since Freeman’s endorsement, the film has seen a modest resurgence on streaming platforms. As of September 2024, Netflix reported a 12% increase in viewership for the title, and a niche subreddit dedicated to “underrated classics” has amassed over 7,000 members discussing the movie’s themes. Some newer reviews have taken a softer stance. Film critic Anne Thompson of IndieWire gave the film a 6.5/10 in a 2023 re‑review, praising Freeman’s “quiet, magnetic performance” and the “subtle chemistry” between him and the child actors.

However, not everyone is convinced. Veteran critic Roger Ebert’s posthumous archive still lists the film as “a missed opportunity,” citing a “meandering script” and “uneven tone.” The debate underscores a larger conversation in Hollywood about how commercial failure can mask artistic merit, especially for projects that deviate from the mainstream formula.

What This Means for Hollywood’s Underrated Gems

Freeman’s public shout‑out highlights a growing trend: established stars using their platforms to spotlight overlooked works. In recent years, actors like Leonardo DiCaprio have championed indie documentaries, while Emma Stone has highlighted low‑budget comedies on social media. This advocacy can propel niche films into the cultural conversation, potentially influencing award bodies and streaming algorithms.

For studios, the lesson is clear. A film’s lifespan no longer ends at the box‑office curtain; digital distribution can grant it a second life. If a movie like The Magic of Belle Isle can find an audience years after its theatrical flop, studios may be more willing to invest in “risky” character pieces, knowing that star endorsement can create a ripple effect.

• Box office: $123,000 worldwide (Box Office Mojo, 2012)
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 30%
• Metacritic score: 46/100
• Release date: July 13, 2012 (United States)
• Director: Rob Reiner