Dennis Quaid’s sci-fi film Frequency has been on Tubi’s top 10 list in the United States for 100 days. The 2000 movie, starring Quaid as a father connected to his son across three decades through an accidental radio link, reached the milestone on the platform.
For more than fifty years, Quaid has worked in the industry, with major credits including The Day After Tomorrow, Far From Heaven, and the horror hit The Substance from 2024. He is also the father of Jack Quaid, who stars in The Boys.
The Streaming Run
Tubi’s top 10 US list saw Frequency reach a milestone after spending 100 days on it, landing in the no. 4 position. That achievement surpassed the popularity of other timely titles such as Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland, a title whose own appeal is clearly tied to the release of Michael earlier this year.
Reaching 100 days on a streaming chart is not easy, especially for something released over a quarter-century ago. The film is not just barely holding onto its title; it reaches the 100-day point in the no. 4 slot, passing more timely titles such as Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland, whose popularity is undoubtedly driven by the release of Michael earlier this year.
The Film’s Numbers
The film’s take at the box office came to roughly $68 million globally, sitting on an estimated budget of $31 million, which suggests the picture probably just managed to cover its costs. The reviews were steadier than the receipts: it posted a 70% Tomatometer score.
Why It Has Lasted
The streaming success of the film may be due to how far ahead of its time its time travel ideas feel. More than ten years after its release, Rian Johnson put out Looper, a cyberpunk time travel film that shares a similar loop where people set in motion events that change the future, which they then struggle to correct.
Comparing Frequency and Looper
| Element | Frequency (2000) | Looper |
|---|---|---|
| Plot | Father and son connected across three decades via radio | Loop where people carry out future-altering events |
| Structure | Time travel loop spanning decades | Time travel loop spanning decades |
| Outcome | Consequences created by the son must be undone | Consequences created by the loop must be amended |
| Influence | Arguably the foundation of Looper’s structure | A defining sci-fi feature of the 2010s |
The comparison falls short of being exact, and the plots themselves were distinct. Yet the resemblance in shape — a loop wherein deeds performed on one day carry forward and must be fixed — demonstrates just how much Quaid’s film shaped the science fiction genre.
The Modest Debut
At the time of its release, the film drew only modest audiences. With a budget of roughly $31 million and a gross of just $68 million worldwide, it appears to have barely turned a profit.
The Critical Response
The film’s audience appeal fell short of its reception. It carries a Tomatometer score of 70%, a respectable mark though hardly outstanding.
The Long Road to Streaming
Frequency arrived in 2000 and had only moderate success in theaters. The film’s modest debut was followed by years on shelves.
What Comes Next
The film’s streaming milestone is a reminder of how Quaid’s career has spanned decades of Hollywood. His son, Jack Quaid, has carved out a significant role in The Boys, continuing the family’s presence in the industry.
A case can be made that Looper owes some of its foundations to Frequency, though the films are distinct from one another. The comparison is more a matter of curiosity than criticism, since Looper was a defining science-fiction feature of the 2010s and received strong reviews. The argument rests on structure rather than plot, not a point that can be settled easily.
The Bottom Line
A film called Frequency has held the no. 4 spot on Tubi’s top 10 list in the United States for 100 days, a milestone that came after release in 2000. It is an unusual achievement for a movie that barely broke even at the box office.
The movie’s hold over the sci-fi field remains plain, though the likeness to Looper rests more on design than on story. The streaming triumph stands as a proper prize for a film that drew little notice when it first appeared.
Key Facts Box
– Film: Frequency (2000)
– Starring: Dennis Quaid
– Streaming milestone: 100 days on Tubi’s top 10 US list
– No. 4 slot
– Box office: $68 million worldwide on an estimated $31 million budget
– Tomatometer: 70%
– Looper: a cyberpunk time travel film released over a decade later
– Looper’s popularity: driven by the release of Michael earlier this year
Looper was well-reviewed and stands as a defining sci-fi feature of the 2010s, while the comparison to Frequency is more curiosity than criticism. The claim that Looper drew some of its key foundations from Frequency is an open one, yet the films remain distinct, with the comparison resting on structure rather than plot.
See the video the story is built around at Screenrant.