Movies
Mark Wahlberg’s By Any Means is finding a second wind on digital streaming after a lackluster theatrical run. The crime thriller received a mixed response from critics, but its latest chart performance suggests it is gaining momentum among streaming audiences, climbing ahead of several competing titles.
By Any Means is only behind Spider-Man: Brand New Day on digital sales
Mark Wahlberg’s divisive film By Any Means is gaining traction on digital platforms, ranking second on the iTunes Top Movie Downloads chart for 2026. According to Pop Vortexthe film sits just behind Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which sits in the top position. It has moved ahead of several other films, including Practical Magic 2, The Weight, Buddy, and The End of Oak Street.
Directed by Elegance Bratton and written by Sascha Penn, By Any Means arrived in U.S. theaters on September 4, 2026. The crime thriller is based on a true story set in Mississippi during the 1960s. The film follows FBI agent Wayne Strider as he investigates the murders of prominent civil rights leaders.
The search for those behind the killings leads him to an unlikely ally, Gregory Scarpa, a Mafia hitman known for his violent methods. As Strider works to make progress on the case, he must navigate an uneasy partnership with Scarpa while pursuing answers to the targeted attacks.
The film stars Mark Wahlberg as Gregory Scarpa and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Special FBI Agent Wayne Strider. The supporting cast includes Nicole Beharie as Allison Strider, Giancarlo Esposito as Vernon Dahmer, Josh Lucas as Special Agent Everett Rhodes, and David Strathairn as Special Agent Roy K. Moore, among others.
By Any Means has received mixed reviews from critics. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a critics’ score of 49 percent based on 78 reviews. Its audience score is considerably higher at 88 percent.