Taylor Sheridan’s Sicario: Day of the Soldado Deserved Better in Theaters

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Denis Villeneuve’s 2015 film offered a bleak and unsettling look at the war on drugs, exposing the corruption at its core. The movie intentionally challenged viewers, forcing them to confront the complex and often questionable ethics of the U.S. fight against Mexican drug cartels. By avoiding simple solutions and a feel-good conclusion, it left a lasting impression on audiences.

Following the first film’s success, a sequel was approved. Writer Taylor Sheridan, who previously appeared on Sons of Anarchy and gained recognition for films like Sicario and shows like Yellowstone and Landman, was brought on to write it. There was hope that Sicario 2 would be a major box office success, but unfortunately, it didn’t perform well in theaters, despite being a film many felt deserved a wider audience.

Sicario: Day of the Soldado Continued the Stories of Del Toro and Brolin’s Characters

When the sequel to Sicario was first announced, fans anticipated that the main actors from the original film would reprise their roles. However, by November 2016, it became clear that only Josh Brolin would return as Matt Graver. In the first Sicario movie, Graver led a covert operation aimed at dismantling Mexican cartels and replacing them with a Colombian drug organization. He recruited Gillick to assist by assassinating Fausto Alarcón, the ruthless leader of the Sonoran cartel who was responsible for the murder of Gillick’s family.

However, the operation’s success is doubtful this time around. Garver and his team try to start a war between competing drug cartels, who have been sending bombers into the U.S. They do this by faking a kidnapping – taking the daughter of a powerful Sonoran leader, Isabel Reyes – and simultaneously hiring someone to kill a key lawyer from the Matamoros cartel. The plan relies on both cartels believing the other is responsible, escalating the conflict.

Unfortunately for Graver, the operation quickly falls apart when he and his team are ambushed and forced to kill 25 corrupt Mexican police officers. Following this chaotic event, the Secretary of Defense orders Graver to eliminate both Gillick and Isabel, hoping to cover up any evidence of America’s involvement in the risky and unlawful operation. Graver, troubled by the order to kill Gillick, instead asks Gillick to kill Isabel. However, Gillick’s conscience gets the better of him at a crucial moment, and he refuses to harm the girl, choosing to flee with her instead, which leads to…

Sicario: Day of the Soldado Was Accused of Having Too Much Action

When Sicario: Day of the Soldado was released in June 2018, it received mixed reviews and earned less money at the box office than the first Sicario film. While this wouldn’t usually be a major concern for a mature, R-rated thriller – it made about $10 million less – the sequel cost significantly more to produce, resulting in lower overall profits.

The sequel was also received a lot less rapturously by critics and some fans.

Okay, so after seeing Soldado, a lot of people – and I’d agree – felt like it prioritized action and visual thrills over substance. Unlike the first film, it didn’t really try to say anything meaningful or tackle complex issues, and honestly, it just didn’t have that same artistic flair. It felt more like pure spectacle and less like a carefully crafted story.

Both audiences and reviewers agreed that Soldado didn’t quite live up to the original Sicario. Two years later, Josh Brolin even confessed on Roger Deakins’ podcast that the sequel was missing key elements – the involvement of director Denis Villeneuve and cinematographer Deakins himself. Brolin acknowledged Soldado had a larger scale and more action, calling it ‘wonderful for what it is,’ but emphasized that the first Sicario film was uniquely subtle and cleverly constructed.

The actor, known for his role in Weapons, pointed out the significant impact of the directors’ camera work on how the audience experienced each film. He explained that these choices – including camera placement and lens selection – created a distinct tone and level of subtlety. According to him, Soldado felt more immediate and shocking, while Sicario drew viewers in more gradually and immersively.

For All Its Faults, Day of the Soldado Deserved More Credit Than It Was Given

While Sicario: Day of the Soldado isn’t quite as impactful as the first film, it’s still a worthwhile watch. It features larger action sequences, but remains a tense thriller that tackles relevant and controversial political issues. Like its predecessor, it doesn’t offer simple solutions, leaving viewers questioning where their sympathies lie in a complex and morally gray world even after the credits roll.

The film represented Sheridan’s effort to take the series in a new direction, which is why Jeffrey Donovan called it a “standalone spin-off” instead of a typical sequel. Without Emily Blunt’s character, Kate Mercer, the movie lacked a strong moral compass, potentially upsetting some viewers. However, Sheridan made a brilliant decision by focusing the story on Isabel, the kidnapped daughter of a crime boss, and centering it around Gillick’s flawed sense of right and wrong.

The connection between Gillick and Isabel is the most compelling part of Soldado, and their scenes are when the movie truly shines. It often feels like a classic Western, with Gillick playing the role of a weary, world-worn gunslinger seeking redemption and Isabel as the spirited young girl who comes to admire him. It’s reminiscent of films like True Grit and Logan, which explains why, despite initial disappointment upon its release in 2018, it’s a stronger film than many realize.

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2026-01-10 17:14