Russell Crowe, a prominent actor known for his roles in epic films, encountered significant controversy with his 2014 biblical epic, "Noah," a film that paradoxically attracted more debate than his more recent horror movie, "The Pope's Exorcist." While "The Pope's Exorcist," released only a few years ago, emerged as one of Crowe's rare bona fide box-office hits, it was "Noah" that truly stirred the pot, leading to bans in several regions on religious grounds and sparking widespread public discussion.

The production of "Noah" followed Crowe's big-budget underperformer "Robin Hood," which effectively concluded his long-standing creative partnership with director Ridley Scott and signaled a shift in his career away from headlining major tent-pole projects. Although Crowe has since taken on supporting roles in films like "The Mummy" (2017), "Thor: Love and Thunder," and "Kraven the Hunter," "Noah" stands as his last major worldwide hit before 2014, a year after his appearance as Jor-El in "Man of Steel."

"Noah" was directed by Darren Aronofsky, serving as his ambitious "blank-check project" after the critical and commercial triumph of "Black Swan." "Black Swan," released in 2010, garnered immense praise and grossed $330 million worldwide against a reported budget of just $13 million. Aronofsky's vision for "Noah," while costing significantly more with a reported budget of $160 million, successfully managed to surpass "Black Swan's" box-office figures, bringing in approximately $360 million globally.

Despite the controversies it courted, "Noah" received mostly positive reviews from film critics, achieving a "Certified Fresh" rating of 75% on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. However, it also fell victim to audience review-bombing, resulting in a significantly lower audience score, languishing at around 40% on the same platform. The film featured a notable ensemble cast alongside Russell Crowe, including Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson, Douglas Booth, Logan Lerman, Anthony Hopkins, and Ray Winstone. For those interested in watching this epic, "Noah" is currently available for streaming on Peacock in the United States, but it is scheduled to leave the platform on May 1.