Tom Hardy's Crime Thriller With Sons Of Anarchy Vibes Is One Of HBO Max's Biggest Movies

Published Oct 2, 2026, 1:44 PM EDT

Nick Bythrow is a Lead Writer for ScreenRant. He has been writing for the site since September 2022. He graduated from Hampshire College in 2022, where he triple majored in Journalism, Communications, and Media Studies. When he's not writing about TV and movies for ScreenRant and his blog, Frayed Branches, Nick is penning speculative fiction and poetry on Amazon. He lives outside Boston, Massachusetts.

Sign in to your ScreenRant account

Tom Hardy's crime thriller that gives off Sons of Anarchy vibes has officially become one of HBO Max's biggest movies as his career continues to shine. Hardy's movies and TV shows have made the actor a household name, particularly when it comes to his action-packed thrill rides. This includes the likes of Havoc, a Netflix original thriller directed by the creator of The Raid, and Marvel's Venom trilogy, which saw him take on the role of Eddie Brock. His dedication to action-heavy TV shows also makes him versatile across the genre.

One such movie where he proved himself is in 2023's crime thriller The Bikeriders. Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, The Bikeriders' story focuses on the Vandals Motorcycle Club, particularly high-ranking members Johnny Davis (Hardy) and Benny Cross (Austin Butler). It also stars Jodie Comer as Cross' wife, Kathy, through whom much of the story is filtered around. It tells the story of the group and their rise and fall, pulling from the real-world photo book of the same name by Danny Lyon about the real Outlaws Motorcycle Club.

The Bikeriders Returns As A Streaming Hit

Now, The Bikeriders has returned as a streaming hit three years later, earning itself a major place amongst HBO Max's top movies. According to data from October 2, 2026, The Bikeriders is the Number 7 movie in the world on HBO Max. Its success stems from its release overseas, finding itself at Number 2 in 10 countries around the world. It showcases not only that the movie is popular on the platform, but also that it's drawn the attention of an international audience with whom it's resonated.

The Bikeriders' success comes as Hardy has seen increasingly strong performances for his work on streaming. In particular, the ongoing MobLand season 2 is performing well on Paramount+, remaining in the global Top 10 on the platform as new episodes air every Friday. His role in The Revenant is also getting plenty of attention, the movie having crossed a multi-month milestone on the platform recently as well. This is just one in a long line of successes for the busy actor.

The Bikeriders Is Like A Throwback Sons Of Anarchy

The Bikeriders has all the bells and whistles that a throwback to Sons of Anarchy would have. Not only does the movie center around a biker gang, but it also correlates with some of the same elements that slowly cause fraying and fracturing to occur in both stories. This includes a focus on illegal activities and tension between high-ranking members, something that slowly results in the gang getting changed forever. It's the story's continual exploration of that breakdown that makes it so similar to the classic FX TV show.

Since Hardy is in the lead role, it seems to be helping The Bikeriders to maintain a high level of success on the platform. It doesn't seem to be backing down anytime soon, either, with the movie still serving as a powerful display of Hardy and Butler's acting prowess. The continued success of the film means plenty of good tidings for the actor's streaming success, which appears to have only just begun.

• 

  Benny

• 

  Kathy

The Bikeriders is a 2024 drama exploring the turbulent relationship between Kathy and Benny, a member of the Vandals motorcycle club. As the club delves into violence, Benny faces a critical choice between staying with Kathy and his allegiance to the club.