Gus Van Sant’s Best Movie in 18 Years Hits Netflix in 2 Weeks

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Gus Van Sant’s critically acclaimed film came out in theaters earlier this year, but didn’t get the attention it deserved. Fortunately, it’s about to reach a wider audience with its release on .

The movie Dead Man’s Wire will be available to stream on Netflix starting May 28, 2026. It had a brief run in cinemas earlier this year on January 9th, earning $2.5 million. While it didn’t perform strongly at the box office, critics have called Dead Man’s Wire the director’s best work in nearly two decades. It currently has a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it Van Sant’s highest-rated film since Milk in 2008.

Bill Skarsgård Leads the Cast of Dead Man’s Wire

Van Sant directed the film, with a screenplay by Austin Kolodney. Bill Skarsgård, known for his roles in It and Nosferatu, plays the main character, and Al Pacino, a celebrated actor from Scarface, also appears. The cast also includes Dacre Montgomery (Stranger Things), Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride), and Myha’la (Leave the World Behind).

The movie Dead Man’s Wire is inspired by a true story: a hostage situation that happened in Indianapolis in 1977. Bill Skarsgård stars as Tony Kiritsis, a troubled property developer who feels wronged by a mortgage company. Seeking revenge, Tony takes a mortgage executive hostage and rigs a shotgun to both of them. This ‘dead man’s wire’ device would automatically fire the gun if Tony died or lost his grip, ensuring the executive’s fate was tied to his own.

The story quickly becomes a huge media event, with reporters, radio personalities, police, and the public all intensely following the case and eager to see what happens. The film explores how the media can exaggerate stories for sensationalism and how corporations prioritize profit, while also showing how flawed individuals can unexpectedly become admired by the public. Its mix of social criticism and suspenseful drama has been likened to films such as Dog Day Afternoon.

Dead Man’s Wire Was Gus Van Sant’s First Film in 8 Years

This movie marked director Van Sant’s return to theatrical releases after nearly ten years, following his 2018 film, Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot. He’s also known for films like Finding Forrester and his remake of Psycho. Van Sant often blends true stories with fictional details, as seen in movies such as Drugstore Cowboy, Elephant, and Last Days.

I often draw inspiration for my films, even the made-up stories, from real-life events – things I’ve read in the news or in articles,” Van Sant has said. “It’s not exactly ‘true crime’ like you see on TV, but I’m interested in exploring the motivations behind people’s actions – what drives someone to do something.

Dead Man’s Wire hits Netflix on May 28, 2026.

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2026-05-17 01:06