Hugh Jackman’s R-Rated Thriller The Death of Robin Hood Hits No. 1 on HBO Max After Weak Box Office

Hugh Jackman’s The Death of Robin Hood is now streaming on HBO Max and reached No. 1 on the service’s US weekly chart after a single day, according to Yahoo. It is still outside the global top 10.

A24 released the R-rated film in theaters on June 19, 2026. SlashFilm reports it grossed less than $10 million, and digital rental and purchase followed in late July, per Screen Rant.

Michael Sarnoski (Pig, A Quiet Place: Day One) wrote and directed. Jackman plays an older Robin Hood reckoning with a violent past after a serious injury. Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgård, Noah Jupe and Murray Bartlett co-star. Critics have compared Jackman’s performance to Logan.

The film holds roughly 68 to 69 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, per Screen Rant and Yahoo.

A Darker Take on a Familiar Legend

The film strips away the charm of earlier adaptations. Instead of the cheerful outlaw who steals from the rich to help the poor, Sarnoski presents a man who lives up to the accusations on his wanted posters, a thief and a killer whose past has caught up with him. Jackman plays Robin as a reclusive figure in his later years, and the story asks what is left of a legend once the songs and ballads are removed. Reviewers have pointed to Logan and Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven as influences, since both follow aging fighters who cannot escape their reputations. The tone is somber and violent, with little of the adventure that audiences might expect from the title.

A Short Run in Theaters

A24 gave the film a wide release in June, but marketing was restrained compared with the studio’s larger titles, and early reactions were mixed. Theatrical business was weak. Reported totals vary by source, but all place the worldwide gross below $10 million, well short of the film’s reported production budget of about $20 million. After its second weekend, the movie became difficult to find on the big screen, and it moved quickly to digital rental and purchase. That timeline sets up the current streaming result as a contrast with the film’s earlier performance.

Behind the Production

A24 acquired the film’s US rights while it was still in development, drawn by the combination of Sarnoski’s reputation and Jackman’s involvement. The writer-director had previously earned praise for Pig, a quiet drama led by Nicolas Cage, and for bringing an emotional focus to the A Quiet Place franchise. Here he applies the same character-first approach to a story built around myth, memory and consequence. Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgård, Noah Jupe and Murray Bartlett fill out a supporting cast that gives the bleak material added weight.

How Critics Reacted

Reviews divided on the film but found common ground on its lead. Critics from nearly every viewpoint praised Jackman’s performance, including many who disliked the movie overall. The disagreement centered on Sarnoski’s relentlessly grim approach. Supporters called it a poetic and painful deconstruction of a myth, while detractors found it punishing and slow. Sarnoski’s earlier features were widely admired, which raised expectations and made the mixed response more noticeable. The final score of roughly 68 to 69 percent on Rotten Tomatoes reflects a film that most critics view as worthwhile even when they have reservations.

Why the Streaming Chart Matters

Streaming rankings measure something different from box office. A theatrical ticket requires a trip, a fee and a decision made weeks in advance, while an HBO Max subscriber can start a film in seconds at no added cost. Titles that struggle in cinemas often find larger audiences at home, especially adult-oriented thrillers with recognizable stars. Reports also note that the film moved ahead of The Housemaid on the platform’s US movie chart, which makes the result more striking given how successful that thriller was in theaters.

A first-day No. 1 in the United States does not guarantee lasting success. The film has not entered the global top 10, and chart positions can change quickly as new releases arrive. Even so, the ranking gives A24 and Jackman a positive headline for a project that had been described as a disappointment. For viewers who skipped it in June, the streaming arrival offers an easy chance to judge the film for themselves.