It was November 2010 when Due Date opened, and both Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis were riding high. Iron Man (2008) and Iron Man 2 (2010) were massive hits and launched Downey Jr.’s career into the stratosphere. Meanwhile, Galifianakis was coming off The Hangover and was himself a rising star. Add in Hangover director Todd Phillips helming Due Date, and it had the makings of a surefire hit. And it was one, albeit modestly at the box office.
Produced on a budget of $65 million (not including marketing costs), Due Date earned only $211 million at the worldwide box office, nearly splitting its domestic and international hauls. One reason is it may not have done better is because it opened against box office hit Megamind; the other is the overall reviews. Both critics and audiences weren’t fond of the film, with 39% and 52% at Rotten Tomatoes, respectively. Due Date opened to an anemic $32.6 million in North America, but had enough legs to eventually get past the century mark.
The film has become a footnote in the otherwise illustrious careers of Downey Jr., Galifianakis, and Phillips. Which is why it’s a little surprising that, nearly 15 years later, Due Date has stormed up the Netflix charts, landing at number four in the Top 10.
It’s actually an underrated comedy that follows Peter Highman (Downey Jr.), a high-strung yet successful architect, who needs to make it across the country to join his wife (Michelle Monaghan) as she gives birth to their child. After a bit of a mishap at the airport with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Galifianakis), the two set off on a road trip to Los Angeles.
It’s much funnier than it sounds, and Phillips did an admirable job, especially since he directed the hilarious Road Trip (2000) and Old School (2003). In fact, Juliette Lewis was in both films playing the same character, Heidi.
While Due Date is clichéd and can be a little bit of a mess, the film seems to have aged well. Recent audience reviews on Rotten Tomatoes seem to agree that it has enough laughs, especially how Galifianakis and Downey Jr. play off each other. It’s definitely worth a watch.
What’s Next for Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis, and Todd Phillips?
It’s no secret that Downey Jr.’s next film is Avengers: Doomsday, unveiled with his surprise casting as Doctor Doom and appearance at the 2024 San Diego Comic Con. The film features a who’s who of Avengers along with The Fantastic Four and others. It will start filming in March in the United Kingdom with a release set for May 1, 2026. A year later on May 7, Avengers: Secret Wars debuts. Downey Jr. is in both films, which will be directed by long-time Marvel Studios helmers, Joe and Anthony Russo.
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Meanwhile, Galifianakis has most recently been lending his voice to several films and TV shows, including Tooned Out, along with appearing in Only Murders in the Building with Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. He’ll next be seen in the live-action remake, Lilo & Stitch, opening May 23, 2025.
Finally, Phillips’ Joker (2019) was a critical and box-office hit, earning star Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar. The follow-up, Joker: Folie à Deux, was a critical and box office bomb. There isn’t any news about another project, but he did indicate he was done with comic book movies.
Due Date is currently streaming on Netflix.
- Release Date
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November 4, 2010
- Runtime
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95minutes