Mark Wahlberg’s latest venture into the gritty crime genre is seeing a stark divergence in reception following its Labor Day weekend debut. While professional critics remain divided on the film’s ultraviolent tone, general audiences have overwhelmingly embraced the R-rated thriller.
Released theatrically on September 4, 2026, By Any Means has secured a high 87% Verified Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes as of September 6. This stands in sharp contrast to its critical standing on the platform’s Tomatometer, which currently sits between 52% and 55%. This gap highlights a recurring trend for Wahlberg’s genre-focused projects, which frequently resonate more effectively with viewers than with the critical establishment.
Directed by Elegance Bratton, the film is based on the Black List script titled CI34 by Sascha Penn and Theodore Witcher. Wahlberg portrays real-life Brooklyn mafia hitman Gregory Scarpa, a notorious figure who famously balanced his life of crime with a secretive role as an FBI informant during the 1960s.
A central pillar of the narrative is the partnership between Scarpa and FBI agent Wayne Strider, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. While the film is marketed as being based on a true story, historians have noted that Strider is a fictionalized character created to explore the racial tensions of the Jim Crow South—a setting where Scarpa was historically dispatched by the FBI to assist in civil rights-related investigations.
Critics have characterized the film as an “action revenge thriller,” frequently citing its graphic depictions of violence. While some reviews praise the chemistry between Wahlberg and Abdul-Mateen II, others have questioned the historical liberties taken with the source material. However, the audience reception suggests that the film’s unflinching pace and period-accurate grit are exactly what fans expected from the pairing.
Produced on a budget of approximately $29 million, By Any Means is distributed by Paramount Pictures.
The film’s “rebound” in the eyes of the public follows a familiar trajectory for Wahlberg. His previous entries in the crime and action sectors often see a second life through high audience engagement, even when critical consensus remains lukewarm. As the theatrical run continues, the 30-point gap between the Verified Audience Score and the Tomatometer remains one of the most significant reception divides of the current season.
