Hugh Jackman's R-Rated Fantasy Remake Officially Hits a Bullseye on Streaming

Hugh Jackman is among the most bankable stars in the business. The Australian actor's long filmography is a testament to his talent, seamlessly acing every genre he takes on, be it musicals like The Greatest Showman, feel-good features like The Sheep Detectives, rom-coms like Kate and Leopold, or simply having the longest superhero stint as Wolverine.

Jackman is the jack of all trades and never shies away from an R-rated feature, like his gritty and visceral performance as an aging Wolverine in Logan, which had fans convinced that this is how our beloved hero's story ends. Then came Deadpool and Wolverine, which became the highest-grossing R-rated feature until The Odyssey took over the title this year. Before that, Jackman did mature films like Denis Villeneuve's Prisoners and HBO crime-comedy-drama Bad Education, both loved by audiences worldwide. This year, Jackman gave a very underrated performance in Michael Sarnoski's The Death of Robin Hood. The R-rated feature shows a very different side to the fabled vigilante, and it shows him coming face to face with the ghosts of his past. The thriller has some compelling performances by Jodie Comer and Bill Skarsgård.

Set in 1247 A.D., we follow an aged, grizzled Robin Hood (Jackman), who lives in self-imposed exile. A lifetime of theft, murder, and endless conflict has left him broken. Unlike the heroic champion of the poor, he is now a hardened, brutal thief whose violent past has spawned countless vengeful enemies. When his old companion Little John (Skarsgård) tracks him down to help settle a personal score, the ensuing battle goes horribly wrong. Gravely wounded, Robin wakes up in a remote, tranquil island where he is cared for by Sister Brigid (Comer). Robin's past inevitably catches up with him as he finally confronts the never-ending cycle of violence.

'The Death of Robin Hood' Is Ruling Streaming Charts

The feature examines the themes of the cycle of revenge, morality, and redemption. However, it failed to get a proper audience, earning $9.5 million worldwide on a $20 million budget. The movie's dark, morose tone, laced with an inconsistent second half, divided its audiences. For once, critics gave it a higher Rotten Tomatoes rating of 69% against the audience's 56% score.

While the movie did not get a warm box office response, fans are flocking to see it this spooky season. The Death of Robin Hood is the top movie on HBO Max's domestic list, as per FlixPatrol. The film stands tall among titles like The Housemaid, Backrooms, Evil Dead Burn, and more.