Before his "Yellowstone" empire became the ratings juggernaut it is today, Taylor Sheridan carved out time between the show's second and third seasons to direct "Those Who Wish Me Dead." This adaptation of Michael Koryta's 2014 novel served as Sheridan's follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2017 feature, "Wind River," setting aside an earlier horror flick, "Vile," which he admittedly made as a favor.
"Those Who Wish Me Dead" faced an uphill battle upon its release. It was part of Warner Bros.' controversial 2021 strategy to debut all its films simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max, a move that diluted its box office potential. Compounding this, the film arrived on May 14, 2021, when cinemas were still reeling from the extensive COVID-19 lockdowns. Consequently, many film fans might not have even been aware of this Angelina Jolie-led thriller until it recently appeared on their Netflix queues.
Now, the film is experiencing a remarkable resurgence. According to numbers reported by FlixPatrol, "Those Who Wish Me Dead" broke into Netflix's top 10 most-streamed movies in the U.S. on September 6, 2026, and has since climbed to the impressive number three spot. This success, alongside "The Whisper Man" starring Robert De Niro and Adam Scott holding the top position, indicates a strong appetite among Netflix subscribers for well-crafted, mid-budget throwback thrillers.
Those Who Wish Me Dead finds Taylor Sheridan in throwback mode
"Those Who Wish Me Dead" feels like a cinematic throwback, reminiscent of the 1990s era when airport bestsellers frequently translated into mid-budget star vehicles that often performed well at the box office. While it missed that theatrical sweet spot, the film is now finding its deserved second life on streaming, much like other contemporary genre pieces.
Angelina Jolie leads the cast as Hannah Faber, a smokejumper haunted by a recent tragedy, now stationed at a remote fire lookout tower in the Montana wilderness. Sheridan, who also co-wrote the screenplay, keeps the narrative taut and direct. Hannah finds herself protecting a young boy (Finn Little) from two ruthless hitmen (Aidan Gillen and Nicholas Hoult) who resort to starting a massive forest fire to flush out their target. The boy's uncle-in-law, a local deputy sheriff (Jon Bernthal), and his pregnant wife (Medina Senghore) also become entangled in the killers' deadly pursuit. Adding a touch of unexpected flair, Tyler Perry makes an appearance, as surprisingly random as it sounds.
Jolie, despite looking slightly out of place in some early scenes with Hannah's roughneck colleagues, delivers a strong performance as a resilient character grappling with past wounds. The film's strength lies in its unpretentious design, allowing Sheridan and his team to prioritize delivering sharp, intense thrills with a rugged visual style, rather than getting bogged down in intricate plot mechanics. Notably, Medina Senghore emerges as an unexpected MVP, showcasing her character's fierce tenacity and survival skills, making this a rare Sheridan project where its female characters truly shine.