A hard-edged crime thriller has found another life on streaming, proving that some action movies only need the right second chance. Emily Blunt leads the 2015 thriller, which fuses tense border warfare, morally murky characters, and Denis Villeneuve’s controlled direction into a movie that still impresses fans.
Emily Blunt’s Sicario finds new audience on HBO Max
The film currently sits at No. 7 on HBO Max’s Top 10 movies in the United States, according to the Flix Patrol’s rankings. It has climbed ahead of titles including The Long Walk, Lee Cronin’s The Mummy, and Hall Pass, giving the decade-old thriller a fresh burst of attention.
Released in theaters on October 2, 2015, Sicario follows FBI agent Kate Macer, played by Emily Blunt, after she joins a government task force targeting a powerful Mexican drug cartel. Josh Brolin plays Matt Graver, the unpredictable government operative leading the mission. Benicio del Toro portrays Alejandro, a consultant who is on a revenge spree following the death of his entire family.
The movie was written by Taylor Sheridan, who later became known for creating Yellowstone and developing a sprawling television universe. It was his screenwriting debut. Denis Villeneuve directed the film, while Roger Deakins handled the cinematography. Made for roughly $30 million, Sicario earned about $85 million worldwide, turning a relatively modest production into a solid theatrical performer.
Critics and audiences responded strongly to the film. Sicario holds a 7.7/10 rating on IMDb and a 91% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, with praise directed at its tense atmosphere, strong performances, and gripping suspense. Emily Blunt’s performance was a scene-stealer and set the movie apart from the typical action-heavy crime thriller.
The sequel, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, arrived in 2018 without Blunt or Villeneuve. Sheridan returned as writer, while Stefano Sollima directed. The follow-up earned around $75 million worldwide and currently carries a 7.1/10 IMDb rating and a 62% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya for Coming Soon.
