While Ana de Armas's recent foray into the world of John Wick with Ballerina didn't meet box office expectations, one of her earlier gritty thrillers is getting a major second life. The 2019 crime film The Informer, which quietly debuted and disappeared from theaters, has surged to become one of the ten most-streamed movies on Starz in the United States this April, proving some stories just need time to find their audience.
The film, which also stars Joel Kinnaman, Rosamund Pike, and Clive Owen, is a tense prison and crime drama based on the novel Three Seconds. It follows Pete Koslow, a former special ops soldier turned FBI informant who is forced to return to prison to infiltrate a Polish drug cartel from the inside after a sting operation goes fatally wrong. Despite its A-list cast and high-stakes premise, the movie was a commercial disaster upon release, earning a mere $3 million globally against a reported $60 million budget.
From Box Office Bomb to Streaming Champion
This 2026 streaming renaissance on Starz is a classic case of a film finding its rightful home. In an era where viewers are constantly seeking smart, suspenseful content, The Informer’s complex plot and gritty performance from de Armas as Sofia Kinski are resonating with subscribers. Its success mirrors other surprise streaming hits like Jon Bernthal's forgotten Taylor Sheridan western or Aaron Eckhart's 'Thieves Highway' on Hulu, proving that audience taste often diverges from initial theatrical reception.
Critical reception at the time was lukewarm but not dismissive. The film holds a 63% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critical consensus noting it as a "passable diversion" that borrows familiar elements from better genre entries. Yet, for fans of meaty, plot-driven thrillers, it clearly offers enough suspense and star power to warrant a late-night watch.
De Armas's Thriller Pedigree
For de Armas, this streaming success highlights the enduring appeal of her work in tense, dramatic roles, even beyond her Oscar-nominated turn in Blonde. The Informer showcases a different facet of her talent compared to the balletic action of Ballerina, focusing on psychological tension and moral ambiguity. It's a reminder that before she was a global superstar, she was already building a compelling filmography with projects like this.
The film's resurgence also benefits from the continued popularity of its co-stars. Joel Kinnaman, in particular, has maintained a loyal fanbase through projects like The Killing, and viewers discovering The Informer might be tempted to dive into his gritty crime thriller 'The Killing' next. Similarly, the film's twisty, intelligence-driven plot appeals to the same audience that has made complex sci-fi like Gareth Edwards' 'The Creator' a streaming sensation.
This story is part of a larger trend where streaming platforms breathe new life into films that didn't get a fair shake in cinemas. Just as Starz's canceled drama 'The Serpent Queen' found a massive audience in 2026, The Informer is getting its moment in the spotlight. It demonstrates how the endless catalog of a streaming service can serve as a cinematic archive, allowing quality work to be rediscovered and re-evaluated years later.
For subscribers looking for a solid, star-studded thriller with plenty of twists, The Informer is now readily available on Starz. Its journey from box office disappointment to streaming chart-topper is a welcome victory for a film that clearly had more to offer than its initial ticket sales suggested.
