When Will Mark Wahlberg’s New Crime Thriller ‘By Any Means’ Be Available on Paramount+?

Mark Wahlberg is returning to the crime thriller genre, and fans are eager to know when they can watch from home instead of the theater. ‘By Any Means’ features Wahlberg alongside Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in a gripping story inspired by real events. With the theatrical release confirmed, attention is shifting to when it might become available for streaming.

Here’s what we currently know about the film’s theatrical release, along with an informed estimate of when ‘By Any Means’ could arrive on Paramount+ based on the studio’s release strategy.

Directed by Elegance Bratton and penned by Sascha Penn, ‘By Any Means’ is produced by Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Alex Lebovici, Chester Algernal Gordon, Basil Iwanyk, and Erica Lee. Paramount Pictures has confirmed its release date for September 4, 2026, right at the beginning of Labor Day Weekend.

The film’s journey to the big screen has been lengthy. Filming wrapped on June 17, 2025, and the project went through post-production before Paramount finalized its release plans. The movie reached completed status in June 2026, waiting for a distributor release window. Once Paramount took over, the studio confirmed a wide release.

Set against a significant historical backdrop, ‘By Any Means’ takes place in 1966 Mississippi and is based on true events. It follows a tense partnership between a hardened mafia hitman and a young Black FBI agent, who must work together to track down those responsible for the murders of civil rights leaders, ultimately revealing a conspiracy that challenges their notions of justice, loyalty, and survival.

Wahlberg portrays the real-life figure Gregory Scarpa, a notorious hitman and FBI informant, marking a notable shift for the actor, who has spent much of his career in the crime genre. Abdul-Mateen II joined the cast in February 2025, stepping in for Sterling K. Brown due to scheduling conflicts.

The supporting cast includes notable names such as Josh Lucas, Nicole Beharie, Ethan Embry, LisaGay Hamilton, LaChanze, Giancarlo Esposito, and David Strathairn. Director Bratton previously helmed the acclaimed drama ‘The Inspection,’ adding credibility to ‘By Any Means’ ahead of its theatrical release.

Currently, the only confirmed way to watch ‘By Any Means’ is in theaters. The film will be released exclusively in US cinemas through Paramount Pictures, with no streaming release date announced yet. Paramount holds all US rights, while north.five.six is managing international sales.

The film will face stiff competition on its opening weekend, with sixteen other films set to debut on the same date, including ‘Onslaught,’ ‘Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass,’ and the ‘Cars’ 20th anniversary rerelease. This competition could influence how long the film remains in theaters before a home release becomes relevant.

Given the sales structure, with domestic rights sold through WME Independent and CAA Media Finance, this film appears to be designed as a theatrical awards contender rather than a direct-to-streaming title.

While Paramount has not announced a streaming date for ‘By Any Means,’ the studio has been clear about its release windows for 2026. Paramount has committed to a 45-day theatrical window followed by a 90-day period on paid streaming and video on demand platforms before moving to Paramount+. This framework was outlined by studio leadership earlier this year.

The 45-day theatrical commitment has become somewhat of an industry standard for wide-release studio films, while smaller titles may transition to streaming sooner. Since ‘By Any Means’ is being positioned as a mid-budget crime drama rather than a blockbuster, it’s reasonable to expect it could follow this standard window rather than staying in theaters longer.

Recent Paramount releases support this pattern. For instance, ‘Scary Movie,’ which premiered earlier this summer, began streaming on Paramount+ exactly 91 days after its theatrical release. If ‘By Any Means’ follows a similar path from its September 4 opening, it could debut on Paramount+ around early December 2026, aligning perfectly with this precedent.

Of course, the film’s box office performance during its opening weekend and beyond could alter this timeline. A strong theatrical run might lead Paramount to keep the film in cinemas longer to maximize box office returns, while a weaker debut could see it move to digital rental and eventually to Paramount+ sooner.

Will Gregory Scarpa’s real-life story be compelling enough to draw Mark Wahlberg fans to theaters over Labor Day weekend, or will most viewers choose to wait for ‘By Any Means’ to arrive on Paramount+?