Morgan Freeman's Neo-Western Is Quickly Becoming A Streaming Powerhouse
Jeff Dodge (he/him), a published author and graduate of Western Washington University, has been a TV news editor for many years and has had the chance to interview multiple reality show stars, including Randy Jackson, Nick Cannon, Heidi Klum, Mel B and John Cena. Fun Fact: he’s been to every single Idol Live! Tour.
Morgan Freeman hasn't starred in very many Westerns in his long and illustrious career, but one of them is seeing a resurgence 21 years later. The actor's first foray into the genre came in 1992 with the release of Clint Eastwood's revisionist Western Unforgiven, which centers on an outlaw who becomes a farmer but gets roped back into his old life for one last adventure. The movie received widespread acclaim and won four Oscars.
Freeman then went on to other movies like The Shawshank Redemption, Se7en, The Sum of All Fears, Bruce Almighty, Million Dollar Baby, and Batman Begins. However, he didn't act in another Western until 2005 with An Unfinished Life. Freeman stars alongside Robert Redford and Jennifer Lopez, with the latter playing a woman who appears at her father-in-law's ranch one day, and the two attempt to repair their relationship. Freeman's character is Mitch Bradley, the rancher's neighbor.
Freeman's Unfinished Life Is Getting A Second Chance On Streaming
An Unfinished Life only grossed $18.6 million at the box office during its theatrical run and got very mixed reviews, which resulted in a 53% on Rotten Tomatoes; the audience score is higher at 68%, though. All these years later, the neo-Western has found a brand-new audience now that it's streaming on Paramount+, where it's currently No. 7 on their Top 10 movies chart in the United States.
One Mile: Chapter One, The Get Out, Tuner, Jackass: Best and Last, One Mile: Chapter Two and Scary Movie are in the top six spots, as of October 2, 2026, with Passenger, Fist Fight and The November Man rounding out the rest of the Top 10. An Unfinished Life is also streaming for free on Pluto TV.
The Neo-Western's Resurgence Comes At The Perfect Time
An Unfinished Life's current status as a streaming powerhouse years after being a box office flop comes at the perfect time for Freeman's career. It was announced last month that he'll star with Michael Keaton in an upcoming Western thriller called Rode to Ruin, with Keaton also serving as director. The story revolves around a retired U.S. Marshal (Keaton) who has spent decades trying to find accountability for his wife's murder and eventually ends up crossing paths with an outlaw (Freeman) experiencing cognitive decline.
It shouldn't come as a surprise that An Unfinished Life is a hit on Paramount+ right now, considering the streamer hosts several Westerns. Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan has helped create a resurgence in the genre in recent years with shows like 1883, 1923, Landman, and The Madison, so Freeman's 2005 film fits right in as subscribers seek out similar content ahead of the TV powerhouse's move to NBCUniversal.
- Release Date
- September 9, 2005
- Runtime
- 108 minutes
- Director
- Lasse Hallström
-
Einar Gilkyson
-
Jean Gilkyson
-
Mitch Bradley
-
Becca Gardner
Griff Gilkyson
- Writers
- Mark Spragg
- Producers
- Alan Ladd Jr., Bob Weinstein, Graham King, Harvey Weinstein, Joe Roth, Kelliann Ladd, Leslie Holleran, Mark Rydell, Matthew Rhodes, Meryl Poster
- Main Genre
- Drama
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