John Wick Meets The Grinch In HBO Max’s Latest Global Streaming Hit Ahead Of 2026 Sequel
Maggie Dela Paz is a News and TV writer at ScreenRant. She has nearly a decade of professional experience in writing entertainment articles about a wide range of topics, including movies, television, music, anime, streaming, and more.
HBO Max has a new R-rated action movie leading its top ten global streaming chart. The genre continues to be a popular section for the streaming platform. This is evident in the successful streaming debut of Milly Alcock’s Supergirl, which has now become HBO Max’s number one movie worldwide. This quick turnaround from box-office disappointment to streaming sensation proves that there will always be a huge demand for high-octane action.
As Supergirl dominates HBO Max, another action movie climbs its way to the top. Combined with John Wick’s stylized action sequences and The Grinch’s satirical comedy, Universal Pictures’ Violent Night movie is currently garnering massive attention from HBO Max users worldwide. This comes more than three years after the theatrical release of the David Harbour-led Christmas action film, which grossed around $76 million against a budget of $20 million.
Violent Night Is Punching Its Way Up HBO Max's Global Charts
Violent Night has secured the #3 spot on HBO Max’s top ten chart worldwide and overtook popular titles like Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004), The 5th Wave (2016), 3:10 to Yuma (2007), and Clown in a Cornfield (2025). The only movie that Violent Night wasn’t able to beat was Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman’s Practical Magic. This isn’t surprising when the 1998 cult classic just received a sequel, Practical Magic 2, which is now playing in theaters. Also included in the streamer’s global chart are the Band of Brothers: Legacy documentary and Tom Felton’s sci-fi film Altered.
Violent Night was helmed by Norwegian filmmaker Tommy Wirkola, who recently directed Netflix’s latest shark movie, Thrash. In the 2022 film, Harbour played a cynical version of Santa Claus, who has become weary and disillusioned by his special job. On Christmas Eve, he finds himself in an unexpected situation. Instead of delivering gifts, he becomes the unlikely savior of a wealthy family who mercenaries have taken hostage. The Stranger Things vet was joined by cast members John Leguizamo, Alex Hassell, Beverly D'Angelo, Cam Gigandet, André Eriksen, Brendan Fletcher, and Leah Brady.
The Film's Streaming Return Comes At The Perfect Time
The audience’s renewed interest in Violent Night is just in time for the highly anticipated theatrical release of its sequel on December 4, 2026. Due to its commercial and critical success, Universal Pictures eventually greenlit Violent Night 2. Harbour will be reprising Santa Claus, with Wirkola and John Wick producer David Leitch also returning. This time, Harbour will be co-leading with Frozen star Kristen Bell, who has signed on to play Mrs. Claus. Joining them are Jared Harris, Joe Pantoliano, Daniela Melchior, Andrew Bachelor, and Maxwell Friedman.
Besides Violent Night 2, Harbour has another high-profile feature set to be released this December. The Emmy winner will next be seen in Avengers: Doomsday, set for December 18, 2026. This marks Harbour’s third MCU movie, playing Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian. Afterward, he will star opposite Noah Centineo in Lionsgate’s war action movie John Rambo, which debuts on June 4, 2027. Harbour is also part of the cast of A Head Full of Ghosts, which is an upcoming psychological horror film from Goodnight Mommy directors Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala.
David Harbor dons the silk red coat and hat of Santa Claus in Violent Night, a black comedy Christmas action film by director Tommy Wirkola. A group of mercenaries lays siege on the property of a wealthy family on Christmas Eve in hopes of scoring a self-bestowed gift of $300 million, leaving Santa Claus as the unlikely but capable last line of defense. Though the family themselves may not be perfect, the youngest daughter remains a kind-hearted child. With her help, and a unique repertoire of magical skills and tools at his disposal, Santa will double-check his naughty and nice list as he dispenses his own brand of justice to the assailants.
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