Cameron Diaz has made a remarkable comeback to Hollywood with Back in Action, an unprecedented comeback to the screen after 11 years. This action-comedy has not only re-ignited Diaz’career but also set records at Netflix as the most-watched weekend premiere in nearly three years. But the movie is more than just a reintroduction of Diaz, it’s a big comeback for the director of the hit comedies Horrible Bosses and Identity Thief Seth Gordon.
For Gordon, Back in Action is a first feature film following 2017s Baywatch. His absence from the big screen coincides with a noticeable decline in theatrical comedy releases, a shift he believes might be linked to changing social and political climates.
Seth Gordon on the Decline of Theatrical Comedies
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Gordon considered the reason for the downturn of comedy movies in recent years.
[2017] was the year in which laughter became commonplace, and in light of that, the comedy industry began to disappear. I do not know whether any connection exists at all with [administration] but the national mood did change around that time before Covid pushed it one step further, Gordon noted.
Despite the dominance of superhero films at the box office, Gordon hopes for a resurgence in comedy. We’re many of us who dream of the pendulum to turn the other way. I’m holding my breath for that, certainly. We could use something to laugh at, “he said.
From TV to Netflix: Gordon’s Journey to “Back in Action”
Although Gordon retired from feature filmmaking he continued to work in television, directing and executive producing hit programs such as The Goldbergs, Atypical and The Night Agent. His excellent resume with Netflix may have influenced the sale of the Back in Action property.
What if two phenomenally gifted spies—with lives as dangerous as covert operations—sown a family and had to leave their lives of adrenaline and deception behind? This premise laid the groundwork for Back in Action.
Jamie Foxx and the Serendipity Casting of Cameron Diaz.
At first, Back in Action was planned to release Jamie Foxx as Matt, a CIA elder and now a father at home. Casting his partner Emily with the correct actress turned out to be a struggle-that is, until Foxx convinced his longtime friend and Annie (2014) castmate Cameron Diaz.
‘She’s fully retired. Don’t even think about it,’” Gordon recalled. But Foxx, who shares a close bond and even a manager with Diaz, took it upon himself to persuade her.
Diaz had quit acting after the 2014 stage production of Annie to prioritize her life choices, including motherhood. However, the themes of Back in Action—a retired spy who left the field to become a mother—eerily mirrored Diaz’s real-life journey.
“It’s a really unexpected coincidence that the title and some of the themes and her character’s situation lined up with real life, Gordon admitted. “It’s almost as if Back in Action was meant to coax her out of retirement, but I swear it wasn’t. It’s just extraordinary timing.”
Jamie Foxx’s Health Scare and Production Delays
The film faced an unexpected setback in April 2023 when Jamie Foxx suffered a severe medical emergency. With only two weeks left in the shooting schedule, production came to an abrupt halt.
Foxx subsequently revealed in his stand-up, What Happened Was…, that he had experienced a brain bleed resulting in a stroke. At the time, however, Gordon and the crew were left in the dark.
They were, of course, very private regarding the things going on. Of course, we guessed what was happening, but we were in the dark like everyone else, Gordon shared. “There were a lot of crazy hypotheses floating around as you probably remember.
By the time Foxx recovered, Hollywood was in the middle of a double strike, delaying the film even further.
“If we owed scattered little bits all over the film, I don’t know how that would’ve played out, Gordon explained. “But this was a missing 15-minute chunk, and we really needed it to even preview or screen the film properly. So we had to go back and do that, and hope that everything was going to be okay. And thank God it was.”
Cameron Diaz’s Performance: “She’s So Back”
One of the most exciting aspects of Back in Action was witnessing Diaz reclaim her place as a leading lady in Hollywood.
Gordon knew Diaz was “so back” when he saw her on set for the first time. “She just has that effortless charm. She makes everything feel natural—even when it’s fight, flight or just funny dialogue,” he said.
Her chemistry with Foxx, forged over generations of friendship and working together, gave life to their onscreen rapport.
Netflix’s Streaming Success and the Future of Comedy
The “home run” of Back in Action on Netflix is an example of how film distribution has changed. While theatrical comedies may have gone the way of the dodo, the need for a laugh continues unabated—and in streamed entertainment, it’s a racket of gargantuan proportions.
Netflix has made a significant effort to put action-comedies on the screen and their big hits are seen with movies like Red Notice and Murder Mystery. The strong debut of Back in Action signals that audiences are eager for more lighthearted, entertaining films.
Gordon is optimistic that the success of streaming comedies, eventually, will spill over into cinemas. “I think people are ready to laugh again. The question is whether studios will again risk big-screen comedy films,” he stated.
What’s Next for Seth Gordon?
Gordon isn’t slowing down. His next film is a documentary on the remaining one of the four pairs of ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz.
There is so much mystery, so much crime, so much intrigue attached to the story of these famous slippers that it’s thrilling project for the director.
Final Thoughts
Back in Action is not only the comeback movie for Cameron Diaz, but also a reflection of the changing face of humor, the toughness of film makers such as Seth Gordon and the lasting appeal of star-driven action comedies. Diaz proving she still has star power and Foxx making a triumphant comeback following a health scare, Back in Action not only provides entertainment, but also a tale of resilience and reinvention.
Wouldn’t this be the spark that rekindles the comic film genre in Hollywood? Only time will tell.
