Taylor Sheridan and Jon Bernthal’s 121-minute 10/10 Action Western Remains a Streaming Smash Hit
Jon Bernthal's supporting role in Denis Villeneuve's 2015 thriller Sicario is drawing fresh attention after the film arrived on HBO Max in early August 2026, riding a wave of interest in the actor thanks to his high-profile summer roles in The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Written by Taylor Sheridan, the film has climbed the streamer's charts, reaching number six on tracker FlixPatrol as of 25 August, up from number seven earlier in the month, as viewers revisit a title that helped cement Bernthal's reputation as a compelling character actor.
Sicario stars Emily Blunt as an FBI agent drawn into a morally murky CIA-led operation against a Mexican drug cartel, alongside Josh Brolin and Benicio del Toro, with Bernthal playing her police officer boyfriend, Ted. On its 2015 release the film earned strong reviews, including a 91% Rotten Tomatoes critics' score and three Academy Award nominations, though its 2018 sequel, Day of the Soldado, was less well received. A third instalment, said to be titled Sicario: Capos, has reportedly been in development for years, though Bernthal's peripheral character makes his return unlikely.
- Sicario is climbing HBO Max's top 10 amid Jon Bernthal's blockbuster summer
- The 2015 Taylor Sheridan-penned thriller hit number six on FlixPatrol by 25 August
- A third film, Sicario: Capos, remains in development after a weaker 2018 sequel
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Sicario is a 2015 crime thriller directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Taylor Sheridan, starring Emily Blunt as an FBI agent pulled into a shadowy, ethically ambiguous operation led by government operatives targeting a Mexican drug cartel. Josh Brolin and Benicio del Toro play key figures in that operation, while Jon Bernthal appears in a smaller role as Blunt's police officer boyfriend, Ted.
The film was well received on release, earning strong critical praise and three Academy Award nominations, and it later spawned a 2018 sequel, Day of the Soldado, which had a more mixed reception. A third film, reportedly titled Sicario: Capos, has been rumoured for years but has yet to materialise.
The renewed attention stems from the original film's arrival on HBO Max, coinciding with Bernthal's rising profile thanks to prominent roles in other 2026 releases, which has drawn viewers back to revisit his earlier work.