Joel Edgerton has been on a remarkable run, from the mind-bending Dark Matter on Apple TV+ to the Oscar-nominated Train Dreams. But right now, it's his 2025 psychological horror The Plague that's quietly dominating the streaming charts on AMC+, and with good reason.
Set to become a major talking point when it hits AMC+ in April 2026, The Plague is a 98-minute gut punch that follows a socially awkward tween named Caleb as he navigates the brutal hierarchy of a water polo camp. What starts as a summer of awkwardness spirals into a full-blown psychological nightmare, with Edgerton delivering a performance that should have earned even more awards buzz had it not been released alongside his acclaimed Train Dreams.
Currently sitting among the top ten most-streamed movies on AMC+ in the U.S., The Plague is a sleeper hit that's finding its audience. The film's raw depiction of adolescent anxiety and self-harm has drawn comparisons to the unflinching honesty of the best horror franchises, but with a deeply human core.
What the Critics Are Saying
Collider's Nate Richard gave The Plague a strong 8/10, calling it "one of the most vital movies in recent memory in capturing what it's like to be 12 or 13 years old." He noted that while the film can be "too grueling a watch, especially in its graphic depiction of self-harm," it's a movie that many young men will see themselves in—and hopefully be impacted by.
This isn't just a horror movie; it's a mirror held up to the terrifying reality of growing up. For fans of thrillers that never let go, The Plague is an essential watch.
Why Now Is the Time to Watch
With Dark Matter Season 2 confirmed to arrive on Apple TV+ on August 28, 2026—and teased by author Blake Crouch as "more like 5 movies" than a TV season—Edgerton's star is only rising. But before you dive back into the multiverse, The Plague offers a grounded, terrifying detour into one boy's summer of psychological turmoil.
If you're looking for something that combines the intensity of the best action thrillers with the emotional weight of a coming-of-age drama, this is it. The Plague is streaming now on AMC+ and is poised to be one of the most talked-about horror films of 2026.
