Milla Jovovich has had a rough decade since her Resident Evil days, but her latest action flick, Protector, is proving that sometimes a movie just needs the right platform. After a dismal theatrical run in March 2026—grossing a mere $2 million worldwide—the film has roared back to life as a streaming sensation on iTunes, climbing the charts in April 2026. It's a classic case of a movie finding its audience at home, even if critics and box office numbers initially wrote it off.
Directed by Adrian Grünberg, who previously helmed Rambo: Last Blood and the Mel Gibson vehicle Get the Gringo, Protector follows a familiar but effective premise: an ex-soldier is forced back into action when her daughter is kidnapped. Think John Wick meets Taken, with Jovovich stepping into the role of a protective mother who will stop at nothing. The film's third-act twist has been described as bizarre, adding a layer of unpredictability that has sparked conversation among viewers.
Critics were not kind. Protector currently holds a 21% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus calling it "ridiculous and uninspired" despite praising Jovovich's "ferocious performance." Collider's Robert Brian Taylor compared it favorably to Liam Neeson's Taken but noted the film spends "way too much of its time recycling the most basic of action movie tropes." Still, for fans of high-octane revenge thrillers, that might be exactly what they're looking for.
The film's box office failure is a stark contrast to Jovovich's past successes. Her Resident Evil franchise grossed over $300 million worldwide, but her post-franchise efforts—including Monster Hunter and In the Lost Lands, both directed by her husband Paul W.S. Anderson—failed to recoup their budgets. Protector was seen as a potential comeback, but its theatrical release was overshadowed by bigger titles. Now, on streaming, it's getting a second chance.
According to FlixPatrol, Protector landed among the most-watched movies on the domestic iTunes chart in its debut week, trailing only blockbusters like Avatar: Fire and Ash, The Housemaid, and Send Help. This streaming success mirrors the trajectory of other star-driven action films that found life after a poor theatrical run, such as Jennifer Lopez's The Mother and Sandra Bullock's The Unforgivable, both of which thrived on Netflix.
For fans of the genre, Protector offers a chance to see Jovovich in full action-hero mode, delivering the kind of intense, physical performance that made her a star. The film's left-field climax has become a talking point, with some viewers calling it a must-see for its sheer audacity. If you're in the mood for a John Wick-style thriller with a Taken twist and a dose of the unexpected, this might be your next streaming pick.
As the streaming landscape continues to evolve, Protector is a reminder that a movie's fate isn't sealed by its opening weekend. For more on the best action movies of recent years, check out our list of The Ultimate Action Movie from Every Year (2015–2025). And if you're curious about other films that blend genres, don't miss Bob Odenkirk's 'Normal' Blends John Wick Action with Fargo Quirks, Hits Streaming May 19. For deeper dives into the genre, our ranking of The 10 Greatest Action-Thriller Masterpieces is a must-read.
