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Shooter

Shooter

Yesterday was about honor. Today is about justice.

2007124 minRMidcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
Director
Antoine Fuqua
Starring
Mark Wahlberg, Michael Peña, Danny Glover, Kate Mara

A top Marine sniper, Bob Lee Swagger, leaves the military after a mission goes horribly awry and disappears, living in seclusion. He is coaxed back into service after a high-profile government official convinces him to help thwart a plot to kill the President of the United States. Ultimately double-crossed and framed for the attempt, Swagger becomes the target of a nationwide manhunt. He goes on the run to track the real killer and find out who exactly set him up, and why, eventually seeking revenge against some of the most powerful and corrupt leaders in the free world.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Shooter?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Shooter streaming on Paramount+, Pluto TV (free) and Tubi (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Shooter?

Shooter earns 6 badges, led by Cultural touchstone and Top 10% in Action.

  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Shooter worth watching?

Shooter's Midcredits score is the 83rd percentile of all films, from 549K ratings across 6 sources. 78% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

83rd percentile

Better received than 83% of films

91st percentile among Action82nd percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)76th
Approval (how many liked it)88th

69 /100

76th percentile of all films

88th percentile among Action76th percentile among 2000s

Critics 53 · Audience 70

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A tight consensus around 7.3 — people broadly agree on this one.

78% liked it

88th percentile of all films

92nd percentile among Action87th percentile among 2000s
78% rated it 7–1022% rated it 1–6

Critics 47% · Audience 80%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 0 wins / 2 noms overall

99th percentile

549K ratings across platforms

98th percentile among Action98th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 50% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$61M
Opening weekend$15M
Domestic gross$47M
Worldwide gross$96M

Returned 1.6× its budget — 84th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A fast-paced, conspiracy-driven action thriller starring Mark Wahlberg as a framed military sniper.

Fans praised

  • Mark Wahlberg's commanding, badass presence
  • satisfying twists and turns in the conspiracy plot
  • tight pacing and thrilling suspense

Detractors panned

  • soulless, cliché-ridden action movie without originality
  • weak, credibility-straining ending
  • character lacks depth and backwoods authenticity from the book

What stands out

ActingDivisive72

Wahlberg's commanding presence praised; Glover and Beatty effective as villains

TensionDivisive68

edge-of-seat twists and action set pieces, but stakes felt low

Pacing65

moves at a nice clip, though some found it uneven

Effects and spectacle65

solid special effects and action sequences

Plot and storyDivisive60

twisty conspiracy thriller but formulaic and predictable

CharactersDivisive55

stoic hero and one-dimensional politicians; lacks depth

Ending45

feel-good ending praised for excitement but ruins credibility

Originality35

derivative of Tom Clancy thrillers, man-on-the-run clichés

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 8 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 2 points apart
  • Critics vs users 6 points apart
  • US vs non-US 4 points apart

Watch experience

What is Shooter like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Fun ride: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you can give it your full attention, and you want a fun ride.

It is intense, never lets up and leaves you satisfied. Skip it when you can only half-watch.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Your full attention.

What it feels like

Fun ride.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseThrilling
Heaviest: late
Register
Hardboiled · 1% of films: Terse, unsentimental, noir-inflected.Brutal · 7% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its conspiracy-thriller material completely straight, with Wahlberg's grizzled soldier delivering every heroic beat earnestly and the film never winking at its own preposterous moments.
The rideThe film sustains a taut action-thriller pressure with frequent set pieces that swing between chase and recovery, building to a violent, blood-soaked climax and showdown.
StructureA conventional, in-order action-thriller arc: the Ethiopian prologue establishes the betrayal, the frame-up kick-starts the chase, and the film builds to the showdown with the cabal.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Satisfied.

The answer rests on this: Cathartic · 6% of filmsRousing · 10% of films
Why it leaves you this wayYou leave with a righteous, satisfied pop—the lone survivor took down the whole corrupt cabal—rather than any lingering unease.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Monster
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% (this title) · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Oppressive state: A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).

21% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeA betrayed special-forces sniper is framed for an assassination by the corrupt military-political cabal he was trying to help, and spends the film fleeing a nationwide manhunt while exposing the conspiracy and settling scores.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfCorruption
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7% (this title): Power 2% · Corruption 3% (this title) · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% (this title) · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Power

Corruption · 3% of filmsJustice · 13% of filmsRevenge · 4% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film centres on a corrupt military-political cabal that uses a cover-up and a fall guy to hide its complicity in genocide for an oil pipeline, and on one betrayed soldier's determination to expose it.
StanceThe film examines institutional corruption and the abuse of power, questioning whether justice can be achieved outside the system, with focus split between Swagger and the skeptical FBI agent Memphis.

The world

Contemporary
ElectronicSupportive music · original score
SettingA post-9/11 America where government corruption lurks beneath the surface, from a snowy mountain cabin to the corridors of power.

Content guide

Is Shooter okay for kids?

R

Shooter is rated R: “Rated R for strong graphic violence and some language” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at severe (89/100), sexual content at mild (32/100), language at intense (73/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (33/100) and frightening material at intense (64/100). Overall it is heavier than 62% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 19 other countries
  • UK15
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany18
  • France16
  • Ireland16
  • South Korea19
  • Brazil16
  • BGC
  • Czechia15
  • Denmark15
  • Greece16
  • Hungary16
  • LTN-13
  • Netherlands16
  • Norway15
  • Poland18
  • PortugalM/16
  • RO18
  • Sweden15
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 78% of all filmsHeavier than 62% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 82%
Sex & Nudity
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 26%
Profanity
Intense
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 62%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 25%
Frightening / Intense
Intense
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 54%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is violence, language, and frightening material. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Shooter have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Shooter?

Cast

2 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Mark Wahlberg
as Bob Lee Swagger
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Michael Peña
as Nick Memphis
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Danny Glover
as Colonel Isaac Johnson
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Kate Mara
as Sarah Fenn
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.
Elias Koteas
as Jack Payne
Rhona Mitra
as Alourdes Galindo
Jonathan Walker
as Louis Dobbler
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Louis Ferreira
as Howard Purnell
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.
Rade Šerbedžija
as Michael Sandor
Tate Donovan
as Russ Turner

Crew

Directed by

Antoine Fuqua

More like this

What are movies like Shooter?

Movies like Shooter include Olympus Has Fallen (2013), Most Wanted (1997) and The Equalizer (2014). Of the 12 closest matches, most are conspiracy thrillers, and several are films about corruption.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

Antoine Fuqua directed 3 of these 12. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Shooter?

980 other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: conspiracy thriller. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.