Tom Hardy's recent crime series MobLand has taken the streaming world by storm, and it's now giving a second life to one of his earlier films. The Bikeriders, a gritty motorcycle-gang drama directed by Jeff Nichols, is finding a massive new audience on HBO Max, climbing the global charts weeks after its initial theatrical run fizzled.
Released in 2024, The Bikeriders stars Hardy alongside Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Mike Faist, and Michael Shannon. Despite earning strong reviews—it holds a "Certified Fresh" 79% on Rotten Tomatoes—the movie struggled at the box office, grossing only about $35 million worldwide against a reported $40 million budget. It was one of several underperformers for Butler following his breakout in Elvis.
Now, the film is experiencing a streaming renaissance. According to FlixPatrol, The Bikeriders was among the most-watched movies globally on HBO Max this week, trailing only the superhero blockbuster Supergirl. It even outperformed Jennifer Lawrence's acclaimed drama Winter's Bone and the period piece Hamnet.
The surge in popularity can be traced directly to MobLand, which premiered on Paramount+ in 2025 and shattered records, challenging the dominance of Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone. The Guy Ritchie-directed series, also starring Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan, has been a critical and commercial hit, with its second season earning an 86% "Certified Fresh" score. The show has already been renewed for a third season, keeping Hardy in the crime-drama spotlight.
This isn't the first time a Hardy crime project has found new life on streaming. His earlier work, including HBO's crime lineup, has proven that audiences love him in this genre. But The Bikeriders offers something different: a character-driven look at 1960s motorcycle culture, based on the photo book by Danny Lyon. Nichols' direction brings a raw authenticity that critics praised, even if the plot felt familiar.
For fans of Hardy's recent TV work, The Bikeriders is a must-watch. It's a slower, more contemplative take on outlaw life compared to the high-octane MobLand, but it showcases Hardy's range as an actor. And with the film now reaching a wider audience, it's proving that sometimes a movie just needs the right moment to find its people.
If you're looking for more crime dramas to binge, check out our list of classic novels that deserve the miniseries treatment or explore the British crime duo you need to stream. For now, The Bikeriders is the perfect companion piece to MobLand, and it's all available on HBO Max.
