Taylor Sheridan Meets Reacher In Netflix’s 95% RT Neo-Western Thriller That Deserves A Sequel

Published Sep 11, 2026, 10:00 PM EDT

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Taylor Sheridan's Neo-Western thrillers and Prime Video's Reacher occupy two distinct spaces in the crime drama genre. While there are quite a few overlaps in both, Reacher never fully embraces Western elements. Interestingly, though, Jeremy Saulnier's Netflix movie, Rebel Ridge, is not only packed with Sheridan's Neo-Western elements but also features a Reacher-esque hero.

Serving as Saulnier's fifth feature film, Rebel Ridge initially seems reminiscent of classic action flicks like Rambo. It follows a former Marine, Terry Richmond, who arrives in a new town to bail out his younger brother from prison. However, things take a dark turn when Richmond's money is unjustly seized by local law enforcers.

This marks the inception of a slow but intense stand-off between Terry and the local police officers. From its premise, Rebel Ridge might seem a little too familiar. However, like Taylor Sheridan's Neo-Western projects and Reacher, it cleverly etches its own identity and unfolds an unforgettable and thrilling 2-hour crime drama.

Netflix’s Rebel Ridge Combines Sheridan’s Western Grit With Reacher’s Vigilante Action

Like Jack Reacher, Rebel Ridge's Terry Richmond perfectly embodies the "mysterious stranger" trope where he walks into a small town as a complete nobody. Even the local law enforcers know little about his background, so they underestimate what he is capable of doing. However, when things finally reach a tipping point, he, like Reacher, single-handedly takes down the entire police force.

However, unlike Reacher and other mainstream action thrillers, Rebel Ridge does not walk through one action set piece after another. Similar to Sheridan's neo-Westerns, it digs into very specific legal loopholes the villains leverage to exploit the main character. It even explores the entire institutional machinery and power dynamics that drive local politics.

Only when that is out of the way does the movie show how its main character cleverly uses non-lethal means to teach corrupt cops a lesson.

Similar to Alan Ritchson's Reacher, Aaron Pierre's Richmond is eventually revealed to be an incredibly smart and overpowered character. However, Rebel Ridge's overarching tension stems more from the institutional rot and procedural abuse that Richmond finds himself against. These aspects make the film reminiscent of Sheridan's movies like Sicario and Hell or High Water.

It Is Surprising That Rebel Ridge Still Does Not Have A Sequel On Netflix

Rebel Ridge boasts a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 95%. The movie earned high praise from viewers and critics for everything from its slow-burning tension to its incredible performances when it premiered on Netflix. While Rebel Ridge did not find its place among Netflix's most-viewed movies, it trended worldwide for quite some time after it landed on Netflix.

Similar to Prime Video's Reacher, Rebel Ridge also has the perfect storytelling format for several new follow-ups. Like every Reacher season, Rebel Ridge could unfold in a whole new town and portray Terry Richmond dismantling local corruption through his non-lethal methods.

Surprisingly, despite all the potential, Rebel Ridge has not been considered for a sequel. The original movie even ends on a relatively ambiguous note that can be expanded into another full-fledged movie. However, for now, it looks like neither Netflix nor Jeremy Saulnier has any plans to revisit its story and turn it into a full-fledged franchise.

Even as a standalone movie, however, Rebel Ridge is an incredible action thriller, and all Taylor Sheridan and Reacher fans must watch it at least once on Netflix.

Rebel Ridge

7/10

Former Marine Terry Richmond travels to Shelby Springs to post bail for his cousin, only to find his savings unjustly seized by a corrupt local police force. With the help of court clerk Summer McBride, Terry uncovers a deep-seated conspiracy and vows to bring justice to the town.