Hugh Jackman’s The Death of Robin Hood Hits No. 1 on Streaming

Hugh Jackman has played Hollywood’s live-action Wolverine for 24 years, and he remains a dependable box-office draw. His latest turn as the hot-headed mutant James “Logan” Howlett came in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine, which grossed more than $1.3 billion worldwide. Jackman is closely tied to his long-running X-Men role, but he has had hits outside superhero films too. They include The Prestige, The Greatest Showman and this year’s The Sheep Detectives.

He has also had big flops. This summer’s R-rated action-thriller The Death of Robin Hood gave him another chance to tap into his Old Man Logan side. The A24 release was an unqualified box office disaster, but it has quickly become a hit on streaming.

The Death of Robin Hood began streaming on HBO Max on Oct. 16. After a few days on the service, the gritty reimagining of the outlaw hero took the No. 1 spot on the movie streaming charts in the U.S.

What is The Death of Robin Hood about?

Michael Sarnoski wrote and directed the film. His earlier work includes Pig and A Quiet Place: Day One. His version of the English folk hero heads in a very different direction from the gallant, lighthearted outlaw seen in 1991’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and 2010’s Robin Hood. Kevin Costner and Russell Crowe played the title role in those films, respectively.

Jackman’s Robin Hood is gritty, violent and sometimes cynical. The film’s poster even proclaims that Robin Hood is “no hero.”

Here is A24’s official synopsis:

Grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder, Robin Hood finds himself gravely injured after a battle he thought would be his last. In the hands of a mysterious woman, he is offered a chance at salvation.

The supporting cast includes Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgård, Noah Jupe and Murray Bartlett.

The Death of Robin Hood failed spectacularly at the box office

With Jackman and A24 attached, the film had the hallmarks of a hit. Still, the 123-minute action-thriller whiffed at the box office when it premiered in June. It earned just shy of $9.9 million in theaters against a reported $20 million budget.

Critics and audiences were divided. The film holds a 69% Rotten Tomatoes score and a much lower audience score. Even so, viewers are showing up for it on HBO Max.

Sarnoski’s next film for A24 may fare better. He is currently helming the live-action adaptation of Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding. Production is expected to start in 2027 in Iceland and Northern Ireland.

Related reading: Robin Hood finally gets his Old Man Logan moment

Source: Polygon