Netflix spent more than $US275 million ($438 million) to make The Electric State, a sci-fi action adventure film starring Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt and a slew of sentient robots. Had it opened in theatres, instead of on its service as it did March 14, the film would almost certainly be declared a giant disappointment.

Reviews have been dismal. And although the movie debuted at No.1 on the streaming giant’s weekly chart of most-watched movies, it had far fewer views (25.2 million) than other expensive features, including The Gray Man (96.5 million), which was made by the same directors, brothers Joe and Anthony Russo.