By Any Means (2026)
The FBI couldn't crack it. So they called in the mob.
In 1960s Mississippi, a young Black FBI agent is forced to partner with a notorious mafia hitman to investigate a wave of brutal civil rights murders.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 2 September 2026 |
| Genre | History, Crime, Drama |
| Director | Elegance Bratton |
| Starring | Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Wahlberg and Nicole Beharie |
| Runtime | 107 min |
| Rated | R |
| Scores | TMDB users 7.4/10 |
Where to watch By Any Means
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What kind of watch this is
By Any Means is a 107-minute crime drama set in 1960s Mississippi. It follows a young Black FBI agent who must team up with a notorious mafia hitman to solve a series of brutal civil rights murders. Directed by Elegance Bratton, the film leans into the absurdity of the premise. The tagline says it all: The FBI couldn’t crack it, so they called in the mob.
What the critics said
Rotten Tomatoes sits at 50%, a precise split that suggests the film refuses to pick a side. Of 78 reviews, half are positive, averaging 5.5 out of 10. The consensus calls it an uneasy mix of exploitation thrills and prestige drama, with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s nuanced performance too often overwhelmed by Mark Wahlberg’s hammy antics. Metacritic lands on 50 out of 100, labeling the reception mixed or average. CinemaScore audiences gave it a B+. It is a film that wants to be a serious drama but keeps slipping into a heist movie, leaving viewers unsure which tone to trust.
How it did with audiences
TMDB users rate By Any Means 7.4 out of 10. That is a solid score, the kind that suggests people watched it, liked it, and didn’t immediately forget about it. There is no box office figure here to measure its reach, so the rating stands alone as the verdict. It landed well enough to stick in the memory, which is more than most can claim.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched By Any Means.
Sources
- By Any Means on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q133864224 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “By Any Means (2026 film)” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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