Zachary Levi’s attempt to step into the boots of cinema legend John Wayne has faced a steep climb with critics. The 2026 remake of Angel and the Badman debuted with a 23% score on Rotten Tomatoes, marking a significant 48-point drop from the 71% rating held by the 1947 original.
The film, released in early October, struggled to find a mainstream audience at the box office. According to The Numbers, the Western earned less than $1 million during its opening weekend from October 9–11. While the commercial performance was modest, the film appears to have landed more effectively with its specific target demographic than with professional reviewers.
The Angel Studios production stars Levi as Quirt Evans, an injured outlaw who finds himself under the care of a Quaker family. This role was originally produced and played by Wayne in a performance that became a staple of his mid-career filmography. The 2026 ensemble also features Tommy Lee Jones as Marshal McClintock and Neal McDonough as Laredo.
To develop his own interpretation of the character, Levi reportedly chose not to watch the 1947 film prior to production. The actor indicated he wanted to avoid a subconscious imitation of Wayne’s iconic delivery, though critics have since cited Levi’s casting as a primary flaw. Reviewers frequently described the production style as “too clean” or “preachy,” suggesting the remake lost the ruggedness that defined the original Western era.
Despite the “Rotten” critical reception, audience sentiment tells a different story. The film earned a B+ grade on CinemaScore. This gap highlights a growing divide between mainstream critical expectations and the preferences of niche, faith-based audiences.
The film’s distribution also utilized a “Pay it Forward” ticket-buying system, a tactic previously used by the studio to bolster attendance. This model allows supporters to purchase tickets for others to see the film for free, a strategy that has become a hallmark of the studio’s marketing even as its latest release faces challenges in achieving broader critical acclaim.
