Christine

Christine has built a devoted audience in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on YouTube TV and Criterion Channel among viewers who want their drama to earn its emotional beats. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 2,269 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Keith Gordon sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Put it on tonight on Netflix and see for yourself.

Christine arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The writing in Christine treats its characters as people first, plot devices second. Nerdy high schooler Arnie Cunningham falls for Christine, a rusty 1958 Plymouth Fury, and becomes obsessed with restoring the classic automobile to her former glory. As the car changes, so does Arnie, whose newfound confidence turns to arrogance behind the wheel of his exotic beauty. Arnie's girlfriend Leigh and best friend Dennis reach out to him, only to be met by a Fury like no other. Keith Gordon and John Stockwell lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1983. The performances in Christine do a lot of work in the silences between the dialogue. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Viewers drawn to character-driven storytelling will find plenty to sit with in Christine. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Keith Gordon carries the material with a performance that rewards close attention. Worth starting sooner rather than later.