A low-budget action thriller that barely made a ripple in theaters has quietly become the most-watched movie on Amazon Prime Video in the United States. Mel Gibson’s 2025 film “Hunting Season” climbed to the top of the streaming charts on November 10, 2026, nearly a full year after its original release, according to FlixPatrol data cited by multiple outlets. The film landed at No. 1 among movies on Prime Video in the U.S. and No. 2 overall on the platform, sitting just behind the series “The Terminal List.”
The surge is unusual for a title that arrived with little fanfare and mostly mixed reviews. It points to something streaming services have known for years: a familiar face in a straightforward action role can still pull in a massive audience, even when critics do not agree.
What ‘Hunting Season’ Is About
Directed by RJ Collins (also credited as Raja Collins) and written by Adam Hampton, “Hunting Season” follows Bowdrie, a reclusive survivalist played by Gibson. Bowdrie lives off the grid in the remote woods of Oklahoma with his teenage daughter, Tag, played by Sofia Hublitz. Their quiet life is built around hunting, fixing things, and staying away from the modern world.
The story kicks into gear when Tag finds a badly wounded woman named January, played by Shelley Hennig, near a river. January has been shot and left for dead. Against his better judgment, Bowdrie takes her in and treats her wounds. The decision pulls him and his daughter into a violent conflict with a drug cartel led by a ruthless criminal named Alejandro, played by Jordi Mollà.
The film’s setup has been compared to Liam Neeson’s Taken and Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino. Gibson’s character is not a former spy with a phone full of contacts. He is a father who knows the land, knows his weapons, and will do whatever it takes to protect his daughter when criminals arrive at his door.
The Cast and the Director Behind the Film
The core cast includes:
- Mel Gibson as Bowdrie, the reclusive father and survivalist.
- Sofia Hublitz as Tag, Bowdrie’s daughter.
- Shelley Hennig as January, the wounded woman who brings danger to their home.
- Jordi Mollà as Alejandro, the cartel figure pursuing January.
- A.J. Buckley as Davenport.
- Scarlet Rose Stallone and James DuMont in supporting roles.
Director Raja Collins spoke about the film’s central tension in a December 2025 interview with The AU Review. Collins explained that the story is built around a good deed that goes wrong. “They say no good deed goes unpunished, and the guys that were after her that tried to kill her the first time are looking, hence why they come to this house. Now everybody’s compromised and all hell breaks loose,” Collins said.
Collins also said he gave the actors room to shape their characters. “The one thing that I really give my actors is freedom to bring it. I talk about the story, how I see their character. I want them to tell me how they see things, and we collaborate,” he said.
How a Small Film Became a Streaming Giant
“Hunting Season” was released in U.S. theaters and on digital and on-demand platforms on December 5, 2025, through Samuel Goldwyn Films. The theatrical run was extremely limited. One report puts the box office total at just $25,000, suggesting the film was always designed to find its audience at home rather than in cinemas.
That bet is now paying off. The film’s rise to the top of Prime Video’s U.S. movie chart on November 10, 2026, came nearly a year after release. Streaming charts are driven by a mix of new arrivals, algorithm promotion, and viewer curiosity. A recognizable star like Gibson, paired with a simple “protect the family” premise, fits neatly into the kind of content that performs well on subscription platforms.
The film also became available on HBO Max in some regions starting August 3, 2026, and it has appeared on Prime Video in the U.K. and other markets.
Critics vs. Audiences: A Clear Split
The film’s reception is one of the most interesting parts of its streaming run. On Rotten Tomatoes, “Hunting Season” holds a 53% critics’ score, which is classified as “rotten.” The audience score, however, sits at 62% on the Popcornmeter.
That gap is not enormous, but it tells a familiar story. Critics have largely described the film as formulaic, with a script that does not reinvent the action genre. Audiences have been more forgiving, often pointing to Gibson’s screen presence as the main reason to watch.
MovieWeb’s review described the film as a return to “badass basics” for Gibson, noting that he and his co-stars make an otherwise standard thriller worth a watch. The Miami Herald’s write-up, originally published by Men’s Journal, was more direct: “The movie doesn’t reinvent the action genre, but it delivers the kind of throwback Gibson performance that fans of his older action movies may appreciate.”
The IMDb rating sits at 5.8 out of 10, reflecting a similar middle-ground response from users.
Why the Film Works for Streaming Audiences
Part of the appeal is the length. “Hunting Season” runs 93 to 100 minutes, depending on the source, making it an easy, self-contained watch. The plot is simple to follow: a father, a daughter, a stranger, and a group of criminals who want the stranger dead. The film does not ask viewers to remember a complicated mythology or keep track of multiple timelines.
Gibson’s role also leans on a persona he built over decades in films like “Mad Max” and “Lethal Weapon.” The Miami Herald review noted that at one point, his handgun “even brought back memories of his days as Martin Riggs in Lethal Weapon.” For viewers scrolling through streaming options, that association is a strong selling point.
The father-daughter dynamic adds a layer that keeps the film from being a pure revenge story. Bowdrie is not just fighting for his own survival. He is fighting to keep the life he has built for his daughter from falling apart.
Viewer Reactions on Social Media
Social media reactions have been mixed but enthusiastic among Gibson’s fans. German outlet Giga quoted viewer comments including, “Mel has done it again! I’ve been eagerly waiting for this film since the first trailer and was not disappointed.” Another comment called it “a great film with a great story, excellent actors, and hard-hitting action scenes.”
Other viewers have been more measured. Some comments described the film as “average,” while others praised Gibson’s performance even when they found the script predictable. The split mirrors the critic-audience divide: people who enjoy Gibson’s older action roles tend to walk away satisfied, while viewers looking for something new in the genre are less impressed.
Where to Watch ‘Hunting Season’ Around the World
For viewers who want to check out the film, here is the current streaming situation:
- United States: Streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Also available for digital rental or purchase on platforms like Apple TV and Amazon.
- United Kingdom: Available on Amazon Prime Video in the U.K.
- Canada: Available on Prime Video and digital rental platforms.
- Australia: Available on Prime Video and digital rental platforms.
- India: Available on Prime Video where the title is licensed.
- Other regions: The film has appeared on HBO Max in parts of Europe and on Prime Video in multiple international markets. Availability can vary by country.
For viewers who prefer physical media, a DVD release has also been listed through library catalogs and retail channels.
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What the Streaming Success Says About Mel Gibson’s Career
Gibson, now 70, has spent the past several years working mostly in smaller action and thriller projects. “Hunting Season” is one of several recent titles, along with films like “Flight Risk” and “Boneyard,” that have kept him in the action space.
The streaming performance of “Hunting Season” does not mean the film will be remembered as a classic. It does show that Gibson remains a draw for a certain type of viewer: someone who wants a straightforward, tough-guy action movie with a familiar face. That audience may not turn out for theaters, but it is clearly showing up on streaming platforms.
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