18 Years Later, Mark Wahlberg’s Divisive Thriller Shooter Finds Redemption on Paramount+

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Mark Wahlberg appeared in the 2007 action movie Shooter, which didn’t perform well in theaters and received mixed reviews. However, the film is now gaining popularity and recognition thanks to streaming services.

According to FlixPatrol, the movie Shooter is now the 5th most popular movie on Paramount+ in the United States as of November 7, 2025. It’s been gaining popularity steadily, starting at #9 on November 3rd and moving up to #8 yesterday. Shooter has even climbed above other popular action films like Top Gun: Maverick (#6), 21 Jump Street (#7), and Lucky Number Slevin (#9).

I’m a huge fan of Shooter, and Mark Wahlberg is amazing as Bob Lee Swagger, this incredibly skilled Marine sniper. The story kicks off when he gets wrongly accused of murder by a group of mercenaries working for a shady private military company. Instead of running, though, he decides to take the fight to those who set him up – and it turns out they’re some seriously powerful and corrupt people! It’s a wild ride watching him hunt down the ones who betrayed him.

The action movie Shooter featured a well-known cast, including Mark Wahlberg, Michael Peña (from Gangster Squad), Fantasia Barrino (The Color Purple), Kate Mara (House of Cards), Levon Helm, and Ned Beatty (All the President’s Men). However, despite having so many popular actors, the film received negative reviews when it was released in 2007.

The movie didn’t perform well in theaters, largely because critics gave it mixed reviews, finding the story unrealistic and riddled with inconsistencies. While critics on Rotten Tomatoes only gave it a 47% score, audiences clearly enjoyed the film, with an 80% approval rating based on over 250,000 reviews. Despite the negative press, Mark Wahlberg’s movie resonated with viewers.

The movie Shooter didn’t have a strong start at the box office, earning $95.7 million globally on a $61 million production budget. It opened in third place, behind the animated TMNT film starring Chris Evans and Sarah Michelle Gellar, and 300. However, after 18 years, Shooter appears to be gaining popularity on streaming, and it remains to be seen if it will continue to climb the charts on Paramount+.

Mark Wahlberg’s Shooter Was Hated by Critics But Audiences Didn’t Care

While Shooter didn’t achieve the same critical success as films like The Departed or Three Kings, many viewers still enjoy it as a fun and engaging experience. Despite some imperfections, Rotten Tomatoes users often find themselves drawn into the story.

One viewer called this movie “a blast,” even admitting it’s full of plot holes and unbelievable moments. They said if you just relax and enjoy it, you’ll find it really fun, with great characters, satisfying scenes, and some surprisingly effective villains. Basically, don’t overthink it – just have fun! Despite its flaws, it looks like Shooter is doing well on streaming platforms.

Shooter is now available on Paramount+.

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2025-11-07 22:39