‘By Any Means’ Rotten Tomatoes Score Revealed: Mark Wahlberg and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Split Critics

Films that explore unconventional partnerships have a unique allure, particularly when they feature characters who would typically never meet. This theme resonates even more deeply when set against the backdrop of 1960s Mississippi, a tumultuous time in American civil rights history.

‘By Any Means‘ delves into this tension, portraying the unexpected collaboration between a Black FBI agent and a mafia hitman as they investigate a series of brutal murders targeting civil rights leaders. Directed by Elegance Bratton, known for his acclaimed film “The Inspection,” this project represents a significant leap into larger studio territory.

Since its theatrical release on September 4, the film’s critical reception has settled into a mixed bag. Currently, ‘By Any Means’ holds a 67% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 15 reviews, indicating that it has received both commendations and criticisms in nearly equal measure.

The film features Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Special Agent Wayne Strider, a character inspired by real events, alongside Mark Wahlberg as Gregory Scarpa, a real-life mafia hitman who also acted as an FBI informant. The screenplay by Sascha Penn is based on the somewhat true story of the initially reluctant partnership between these two men as they join forces to investigate a series of killings linked to Vernon Dahmer’s murder, portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito.

This real-world basis lends the film a distinctive angle, which critics have noted as both a strength and a source of tonal inconsistency. TheWrap praised the “excellent work” by Abdul-Mateen II and Bratton in narrating this “strange tale,” while also suggesting that the film resembles a pilot episode for a series that could have had a long run.

However, not all reviewers felt the film fully realized its ambitious premise. The Hollywood Reporter described the combination of familiar crime-thriller elements with less familiar civil rights history as “awkward and uneasy,” even while acknowledging that the film can occasionally deliver “nasty thrills.”

Next Best Picture echoed this sentiment, likening the film to a “studio-tested blend of ‘Green Book’ and ‘Mississippi Burning,’” arguing that while it meets basic entertainment goals, it ultimately falls short of the more ambitious work Bratton has previously demonstrated.

MovieWeb took a different perspective, commending the film for its unflinching portrayal of the era’s white supremacist violence. While acknowledging some issues with “bombastic characterizations and preachy dialogue,” the review asserted that the film effectively captures the explosive tension of a time when the oppressed finally stood up.

The cast also includes Nicole Beharie as Strider’s wife, along with Josh Lucas, LisaGay Hamilton, LaChanze, Ethan Embry, and David Strathairn. Produced by Hammerstone Studios, Thunder Road Films, Freedom Principle, and North.Five.Six, the film is based on the 2018 Black List script CI-34.

‘By Any Means’ is currently showing exclusively in U.S. theaters through Paramount Pictures, having premiered at the start of Labor Day weekend. There are no announcements yet regarding a streaming release, and details about international distribution remain limited, with north.five.six confirmed to handle sales outside the U.S.

With reviews ranging from admiration to frustration, ‘By Any Means’ is poised to ignite discussions about Hollywood’s ability to balance genre thrills with challenging historical narratives.

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