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Supply Chains

Back in 2010, before the launch of the DC Extended Universe, Warner Bros. and DC were still trying to find their footing against the rising Marvel Cinematic Universe. Unfortunately, the film ‘Jonah Hex’ was not the answer. Despite featuring a star-studded cast that included Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, Megan Fox, Michael Fassbender, Will Arnett, and Michael Shannon, this superhero Western was a massive disappointment at the box office.

Fast forward to today, and much like its titular character, the film has made a surprising comeback, now ranking among the most-watched films on HBO MAX—a full 15 years after its theatrical release. According to FlixPatrol, which tracks streaming viewership, ‘Jonah Hex’ has been steadily climbing the charts, reaching the fifth spot on September 11, 2025. As of now, it has slipped back to the ninth and then tenth positions.

The film follows Brolin as the titular gunslinger, who is ordered by his commanding officer, Quentin Turnbull (played by Malkovich), to burn down a hospital during the Civil War. When he refuses, he is forced to kill his best friend, leading to a series of tragic events that leave him branded and seeking revenge. After surviving a near-fatal encounter, Hex gains the ability to communicate with the dead and becomes a bounty hunter, tasked by President Ulysses S. Grant (played by Aidan Quinn) to track down Turnbull. Along the way, he meets Megan Fox’s character, Lilah Black, a working girl who captures his heart.

Despite its intriguing premise, ‘Jonah Hex’ only managed to gross $10.9 million worldwide against a budget of $47 million. However, its recent streaming resurgence has sparked interest among viewers.

Directed by James Hayward, who had primarily worked on animated features, ‘Jonah Hex’ suffered from a lack of directorial experience and significant studio interference. In a 2023 Variety interview, Brolin reflected on how the studio’s changes made the film “the least accessible movie.” He also recounted the moment he realized the film was destined to fail, noting how journalists would raise their voices when speaking to him during the press tour.

So, why is ‘Jonah Hex’ experiencing a brief revival in 2025? The answer seems straightforward: the film was added to the HBO MAX library on September 1, 2025, after being licensed elsewhere. It appears that subscribers are either revisiting Brolin’s flop or discovering it for the first time, given that very few people actually saw it upon its initial release. With a mere 11% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, its time in the spotlight may be limited. Yet, in the unpredictable world of streaming—where even forgotten films like Sandra Bullock’s criticized horror movie ‘Premonition’ can find an audience—anything is possible.

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