Dennis Quaid’s Forgotten Sci-Fi Thriller That Leaves Viewers “Spellbound” Is Taking Over Streaming 26 Years Later

Dennis Quaid‘s sci-fi thriller is finding a surprising second life on streaming more than two decades after its theatrical release.

Quaid is a renowned Hollywood veteran whose filmography consists of The Parent Trap, The Day After Tomorrow, and The Rookie. Among major blockbusters, his most acclaimed role was the historical drama Far from Heaven, where he starred opposite Julianne Moore and earned a Golden Globe nomination. He also earned nominations for his performance as President Bill Clinton in The Special Relationship. Meanwhile, some projects have gone under the radar, but one thriller is finding a new audience.

Quaid starred in the 2000’s sci-fi thriller Frequency, which follows John Sullivan (Jim Caviezel), a New York police officer who discovers his ability to communicate with his late father, Frank (Quaid), 30 years in the past, through an old radio. However, their actions alter the timeline and create even greater consequences. While it may not be the most remembered movie, Frequency recently debuted at No. 6 on Tubi’s U.S. Overall Top 10 chart on July 1 before quickly climbing to No. 4 the following day. It has remained there for six consecutive days.

Dennis Quaid is looking to the side in Frequency

The sci-fi thriller joins a diverse lineup that features a mix of original releases, modern thrillers, and older Hollywood classics, including No. 1 Tubi Original Give Me Back My Baby, Adam Sandler’s Spanglish, the sci-fi horror film T.I.M., Robin Williams’ The Angriest Man in Brooklyn, and The Missing, starring Tommy Lee Jones and Cate Blanchett.

Frequency’s placement among both newer titles and established favorites demonstrates viewers are gravitating toward older, well-regarded catalog titles just as much as newer additions to the platform.

Directed by Gregory Hoblit and written by Toby Emmerich, the thriller was released by New Line Cinema in 2000. The filmmaker was already known for directing thrillers such as Primal Fear and Fallen. Alongside Quaid and Caviezel, the project also stars Elizabeth Mitchell, Andre Braugher, Noah Emmerich, Michael Cera, and Shawn Doyle.

The sci-fi movie had mostly positive reviews, earning a solid 70% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and resonated more with audiences, with 81%. Meanwhile, Frequency had a moderate box office in 2000, grossing $68.1 million worldwide against a reported $31 million budget.

The film later inspired a television adaptation that premiered on The CW in 2016, tweaking the premise into a father-daughter story. The series starred Peyton List and Riley Smith and ran for one season before ending with a special online epilogue that gave closure after its cancellation.

Combined with Frequency’s enduring premise and positive viewer reception, its climb up Tubi’s charts shows how streaming platforms continue introducing older films to new audiences long after their original theatrical runs. More than 26 years after its release, the thriller demonstrates that science fiction stories can continue finding audiences decades after leaving theaters.