As the world eagerly awaits the next James Bond, it's worth remembering that the role comes with its own set of challenges. Beyond the intense scrutiny, actors who take on 007 often find themselves typecast for years. It's only after they hang up the tuxedo that audiences truly appreciate their range. Daniel Craig, for instance, found widespread acclaim as Benoit Blanc in the Knives Out films, following his quirky turn in Steven Soderbergh's Logan Lucky. But before those successes, he took on several projects that didn't quite hit the mark, including The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Golden Compass, and Cowboys & Aliens. His indie venture Kings barely made a dent at the box office, grossing under $1 million and earning a dismal 10% on Rotten Tomatoes. Yet, one of his early non-Bond films from his 007 era is currently available for U.S. viewers to discover on Paramount+.
That film is Defiance, released in 2008—the same year as his second Bond outing, Quantum of Solace. Directed by the seasoned filmmaker Edward Zwick, known for Blood Diamond and The Last Samurai, Defiance didn't achieve the same commercial or critical success as those earlier works. Set during World War II, it tells the true story of four Belarusian brothers who banded together to rescue Jewish people from the Nazis. The cast includes Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell, and George MacKay, adding depth to this harrowing tale of survival and heroism.
If you've been meaning to watch Defiance, time is running out. The film will be removed from Paramount+ on September 1, 2026. So, you have just a few weeks to stream it before it disappears from the platform. This is your last chance to see Craig in this powerful historical drama.
Produced on a reported budget of $32 million, Defiance grossed just over $50 million worldwide. Critics were lukewarm, with a 58% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus notes that while it's professionally made, it lacks the emotional punch of the real events it depicts. Still, for fans of Craig or WWII cinema, it's a compelling watch.
Craig's next big project is Greta Gerwig's highly anticipated Narnia: The Magician's Nephew for Netflix, a mega-budget adaptation. He's also attached to a mysterious new film directed by Damien Chazelle, co-starring Cillian Murphy. As he continues to diversify his portfolio, Defiance remains a notable entry in his filmography.
While you're at it, you might also want to check out other titles leaving Paramount+ soon, such as Brad Pitt's WWII romance Allied and Shia LaBeouf's Eagle Eye. And if you're in the mood for more action, Jon Bernthal's The Accountant is currently dominating Prime Video.
Don't miss out on Defiance—stream it on Paramount+ before September 1, 2026.
