Mark Wahlberg is having a busy year with multiple new releases, but the persistence of one of his classics proves some people enjoy his older movies more than his newer films. Earlier this year, Wahlberg teamed up with Paul Walter-Hauser (The Fantastic Four: First Steps) for Balls Up, the action comedy that launched on Prime Video back in April. The film spent weeks at the top of streaming charts before giving up its spot in the top 10 despite a mostly mediocre reception from critics and audiences. Wahlberg returned to the big screen last month to star opposite Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Wonder Man) in By Any Means, the new crime thriller that eked out only $16 million at the box office despite a wide run from Paramount. The film is now only playing in select limited theaters.
Mark Wahlberg has starred in dozens of iconic action movies over the years, and although fans could argue for hours about his most famous roles, one that would definitely get some votes is Bob Lee Swagger. It’s been almost 20 years since Wahlberg suited up as Bob Lee Swagger in Shooter, the 2007 action thriller that grossed only $95 million at the box office against a $61 million budget. The film wasn’t a smash hit in theaters, but over the years it has developed a cult-like following streaming on various platforms. Right now, Shooter is available to watch via a Paramount Plus subscription, but the film is also streaming for free on the underrated platform, Pluto TV. Neither platform has set a date for it to leave streaming, either, so it’s a safe bet that it will be around for a while.
What Is ‘Shooter’ About?
In addition to Mark Wahlberg, Shooter also stars Michael Peña, Rhona Mitra, and Danny Glover. The film is based on Stephen Hunter’s Point of Impact novel, and Jonathan Lemkin wrote the script with Antoine Fuqua directing. Fuqua has worked with Denzel Washington several times over the years on his many action and crime thriller classics. The official synopsis for Shooter, which is a perfect mash-up of Reacher and John Wick, reads as follows:
“A top Marine sniper, Bob Lee Swagger, leaves the military after a mission goes awry and disappears without a trace. Swagger is coaxed back into service after high-profile government officials convince him to help thwart a plot against the President of the United States. Swagger realizes he has been betrayed and becomes the target of a nationwide manhunt. Instead of hiding, he seeks revenge against some of the most powerful and corrupt leaders in the free world.”
Check out Shooter on either Paramount Plus or Pluto TV and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Mark Wahlberg’s future projects.
