Who doesn’t love a Mark Wahlberg action flick? Well, Paramount+ users certainly do, because one of Wahlberg’s most underrated action movies has been dominating the streamer’s charts for months. While fans love his big hits, like The Departed, Pain & Gain, and The Lone Survivor, not to mention the criminally underseen action comedy, The Other Guys, it’s one of Wahlberg’s more underrated films that continues its comeback on streaming. In 2007, Wahlberg starred in one of his campiest and arguably his best action flicks to date, Shooter, and now is the perfect time to watch it on streaming.
Shooter is currently streaming on Paramount+, and the film has had one hell of a run on the platform. 18 years after it was released in theaters, audiences are finding new reasons to love the movie, as it has been in Paramount+’s Top 10 chart for over four months. At the time of writing, Shooter has maintained its spot in the Top 10 for 142 days, and currently sits in ninth place, although it flucutates higher and lower on the list throughout the week. Tom Cruise’s underrated crime thriller, American Made, currently holds the top spot.
Shooter was directed by the legendary director, Antoine Fuqua. The film stars Wahlberg as Bob Lee Swagger, a former Special Forces sniper who is framed for an assassination attempt on the president. With the whole country hunting him down, Swagger must use his skills to survive the chase, uncover who was actually behind it, and clear his name. The official synopsis reads:
“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.”
‘Shooter’ Divided Audiences & Critics
To say that Shooter is one of Wahlberg’s more divisive movies wouldn’t be a gross overstatement. When the film was released in 2007, critics weren’t overly enthused by the film. It holds a measly 47% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from over 150 reviews. However, Mark Wahlberg as a Special Forces sniper was a match made in heaven for action fans, as the movie boasts a far stronger audience score of 80% from over 250,000 ratings.
“Mark is an incredible actor! One of my most favorite movies from him. Action-packed thriller!! Classic in my opinion,” wrote one user. Others heaped similar praise on the film, despite its obvious plot holes that appear once you stop being wowed by the explosions and shootouts. Another user wrote, “This is a very fun movie! Does it have plenty of plot holes and unrealistic scenes? Yes, absolutely. But if you go into it without trying to pick apart every scene, it’s just a blast from start to finish. It has funny and likeable characters, many satisfying scenes, and some disturbingly convincing villains. Put your tinfoil hat on and enjoy the ride!”
- Release Date
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March 22, 2007
- Runtime
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124 Minutes