This old school Marvel movie is now free to stream ahead of Avengers Doomsday ‣ Diverse Daily

It’s all too easy to conflate theatrical success with cultural impact. If you look at 1980s movies, for example, you might assume that Ghostbusters would be in the top 10 highest grossing for the impact it’s had in decades since. In truth, it’s number 19, in some cases trounced by titles that eventually became background noise, such as Rain Man, Crocodile Dundee, and Look Who’s Talking.

Ghost Rider was a huge hit in 2007. It reaped over $229 million at the box office, and over $104 million more on home video. It’s not talked about much these days — except that Marvel Studios recently announced a 2028 reboot, set to be directed by Shawn Levy, with Ryan Gosling in the lead role. This might be a fine time to revisit the original, even if you shouldn’t expect high cinema.

Directed by Mark Steven Johnson — best known for Grumpy Old Men and Daredevil — the movie’s main attraction is actually Nicholas Cage. The frequently over-the-top actor plays Johnny Blaze, a motorcycle stuntman who once sold his soul to Mephistopheles (a.k.a. the devil) to save his dying father. Through various circumstances, Blaze ends up reuniting with his ex-girlfriend (played by Eva Mendes), and being appointed a new Ghost Rider by Mephistopheles in order to defeat his insurgent son, Blackheart. That character is trying to retrieve a MacGuffin called the contract of San Venganza. The movie is simultaneously ridiculous and predictable, but it has gathered a fanbase, nevertheless.

Ghost Rider is free to stream on Tubi

Check your subscriptions, though

The cheapest way to watch Ghost Rider at the moment is on Tubi, though you will of course have to put up with ad breaks. On paid subscription services, your options include Hulu and Starz, though it does make its way to other services occasionally, such as HBO Max. If you’re a diehard fan of Cage or the Ghost Rider comics, you might buy or rent a copy through services like Apple TV or Amazon Prime Video. Being a nearly 20-year-old title, owning it is only a few dollars more than renting.

You can also track down copies on DVD and 1080p Blu-ray. Be sure to look for the Extended Cut, which adds over 10 minutes, giving side characters more time to develop and making the movie as a whole feel less rushed. Back in 2007, studios were more aggressive about trimming movies than they are now, hoping to get as many showings into theaters as possible.

number of users: 80 million
notable shows: Hemlock Grove, Babylon 5, Spartacus, Gotham, Columbo

Try these palate cleansers afterward

A few other picks on Tubi

Clint Eastwood in the The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Since Ghost Rider is undeniably cheesy, there are a few more “elevated” movies on Tubi you might consider chasing it down with. My top pick would be Sergio Leone’s The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, which is one of the best movies of all time, even outside the Western genre. I’m also a fan of Neil Jordan’s Interview with the Vampire, which somehow succeeds despite its three leads having nothing close to an authentic French accent. For better action, there’s John Frankenheimer’s Ronin, which has one of the best car chases ever put on film. Ghost Rider pales by comparison, and that’s without any CG effects.