Forget Kevin Costner’s Horizon Saga, New 140-Minute Western Epic Enjoys Massive Streaming Redemption

Published Sep 30, 2026, 11:54 AM EDT

Ryan Northrup is a Senior Staff Writer on ScreenRant's Movie & TV News team, where he has authored nearly 5,000 articles, including features and reviews. A graduate of McMaster University, Ryan began his career in public relations before attending Vancouver Film School. There, he built lasting industry connections and optioned a feature film screenplay.

The Western genre remains as popular as ever on the small screen, largely thanks to Taylor Sheridan. After his neo-Western Yellowstone became a smash hit, he followed it up with 1883, a more traditional Western, as well as shows like 1923, Marshals, and The Madison. On the big screen, Westerns are more hit-and-miss, with Kevin Costner recently trying to revitalize the genre with his Horizon: An American Saga franchise. The first film underperformed, and the second remains without a release date, and it's unclear whether the planned third and fourth entries will happen at all.

As the wait continues for more Horizon, a controversial Western called Rust is now lighting up the Prime Video streaming charts in the U.S. As of writing, the film ranks as the fifth most popular movie on the service, beating some notable titles and suggesting that Western movies can still succeed on the small screen.

Rust Is Riding Its Way Up Prime Video's Top 10

Directed by Joel Souza and starring Alec Baldwin, Josh Hopkins, Travis Fimmel, Patrick Scott McDermott, Frances Fisher, and Rhys Coiro, Rust tells the story of an aging outlaw who goes on the run with his grandson after the boy is sentenced to hang for an accidental killing. The Western wasn't a major success in theaters but has been picking up steam on streaming, jumping ahead of some big movies, including Dark Nature (2023), The Amateur (2025), Good Fortune (2025), The Last Sunrise (2026), and Masters of the Universe (2026).

Though Rust may be growing in popularity, it still faces some tough competition ahead. On Prime Video, the Baldwin-starring Western is currently ranking behind Drawn Together (2026), The Passenger (2026), and You + Me – Against the World (2026). Occupying the top spot is The Love Hypothesis (2026), a romance novel adaptation that has quickly become a major performer for the streaming service. Still, for Rust, this new streaming success marks a major win, especially given the film's tragic road to release and understated theatrical bow.

The Western Epic Got An Infamously Quiet Release

Rust was marred by tragedy in 2021 when cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed by a live round fired from Baldwin's prop gun, shutting down production for 18 months. Souza was also struck by the round but survived. The film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was ultimately convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Hutchins' death, while the involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin was dismissed. Production eventually resumed on the film, and it finally received a limited theatrical release in May 2025.

During its limited release, Rust grossed just under $27,000 worldwide on a budget estimated to be around $8 million. Though the film was obviously not a theatrical success, its recent bump on the Prime Video charts suggests it is now making its way to audiences, many of whom may be accustomed to experiencing Westerns on streaming. It remains to be seen how Rust will perform in the days and weeks ahead, but the genre evidently continues to appeal to viewers under the right viewing circumstances.

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  Harland Rust

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  Josh Hopkins

  Wood Helm

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  Fenton 'Preacher' Lang

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  Patrick Scott McDermott

  Lucas Hollister