Anthony Mackie rose to prominence as Sam Wilson, previously known as Falcon, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, first appearing in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). Over the years, his character evolved into a central figure within the franchise, culminating in Mackie recently taking over the mantle of Captain America in 2025’s Captain America: Brave New World.
Mackie’s journey to stardom began on the big screen with his debut performance in 8 Mile (2002). He quickly won critical acclaim for powerful turns in Brother to Brother (2004) and the Oscar-winning war drama The Hurt Locker (2008). He later embodied the cultural icons Tupac Shakur in Notorious (2009) and Martin Luther King Jr. in HBO’s All the Way (2016).
Beyond film, Mackie has built an impressive television résumé. He starred in Netflix’s Altered Carbon season 2, took on a rugged lead role in Peacock’s Twisted Metal, and portrayed a fictionalized version of himself in Apple TV’s The Studio, which earned him his first Emmy nomination. Meanwhile, Mackie’s 2024 sleeper hit is seeing a resurgence in popularity on streaming.
Elevation Finds Renewed Streaming Success
Elevation has found renewed streaming success. Directed by George Nolfi (The Adjustment Bureau), with a script written by Kenny Ryan and Jacob Roman, the 2024 post-apocalyptic action thriller stars Anthony Mackie as a single father who, along with two women, leave the safety of their home in the Rocky Mountains to confront terrifying creatures in a desperate attempt to save a young boy’s life.
The cast also includes Emmy nominee Morena Baccarin (Homeland), Maddie Hᴀsson, Shauna Earp, Rachel Nicks, Danny Boyd Jr., and Tyler Grey.
Now, Elevation ranks third on HBO Max’s Top 10 movies in the United States for today, August 20. It ranks below Final Destination Bloodlines in first, Death of a Unicorn, and above тιтles like Alien: Covenant, Freaky Tales, Get a Job, and Sinners.
What This Means For Elevation
After a modest box office performance, earning about $3.6 million against its $18 million budget, Elevation saw an unexpected revival following its release on Amazon Prime Video in early 2025. Roughly a year after its theatrical debut, the movie emerged as a sleeper hit on the platform, boosted by Anthony Mackie’s fanbase, strong word of mouth, and favorable algorithmic recommendations.
By mid-July 2025, Elevation had broken into Prime Video’s Global Top 10 chart, frequently ranking third behind тιтles such as The Accountant 2 and Heads of State. Now, after switching platforms, Elevation is experiencing another resurgence on streaming, climbing nearly to the top of HBO Max’s charts, and once again ranking third.
