Play Dirty has become an instant streaming hit on Prime Video. Co-written and directed by Shane Black, based on the “Parker” books by Donald E. Westlake, the new action movie stars Mark Wahlberg as an expert thief who, along with his skilled crew, attempt the heist of a lifetime, which draws them into a dangerous clash with the New York mafia.
With Wahlberg in the lead role, Play Dirty‘s cast also includes Oscar nominee LaKeith Stanfield (Judas and the Black Messiah), Rosa Salazar, Emmy winner Keegan-Michael Key (Key and Peele), DCU and MCU star Chukwudi Iwuji, Nat Wolff, Gretchen Mol, Thomas Jane, four-time Emmy winner Tony Shalhoub (Monk), Hemky Madera, Alejandro Edda, and Mark Cuban in a cameo as himself.
Now, immediately after its release on October 1, Play Dirty has sH๏τ up Prime Video’s Top 10 movies in the United States, ranking first for today, October 3, above A Working Man, Love Hurts, Burner, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Morbius, Wicked, Diablo, Drive Back, and Novocaine.
What Play Dirty’s Streaming Success Means For The Movie
Play Dirty is based on the “Parker” books by Donald E. Westlake, published under the pseudonym Richard Stark, which have been adapted to the big screen several times before, with the most recent being Jason Statham’s Parker (2013). Other movies inspired by the character include Lee Marvin’s Point Blank (1967), Gene Hackman’s The Split (1968), and Mel Gibson’s Payback (1999).
If Play Dirty continues to be a big streaming hit for Prime Video, it’s possible that it could become a franchise, considering there are over 20 books’ worth of source material. Amazon scored big with Reacher, drawn from Lee Child’s bestselling books, and the platform seems eager to replicate that success with another action-packed literary adaptation.
Our Take On Play Dirty’s Streaming Success
Though Play Dirty could be a big hit for Prime Video, it’s still somewhat disappointing for director Shane Black and star Mark Wahlberg. With a 52% Rotten Tomatoes score, Play Dirty represents a significant step down for Black, as some of his best movies – The Nice Guys (91%), Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (86%), and Iron Man 3 (79%) – scored much higher.
Play Dirty reviews consider the movie to be a shallow imitation of Shane Black’s best work.
On the other hand, Play Dirty extends Wahlberg’s recent slump, as most of his movies in recent years have earned “Rotten” scores. Since 2020, he’s released 11 films that have failed to clear the “Fresh” threshold. Still, like many of Wahlberg’s movies, Play Dirty is resonating more with audiences, evidenced by its instant streaming success.
