Zachary Levi stepped into John Wayne‘s boots for a new remake of Angel and the Badman, and critics have not been kind. The 2026 Western, which opened in theaters on October 9, has landed a 23% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes from 13 reviews. The 1947 original, starring Wayne as outlaw Quirt Evans, holds a 71% score on the same platform, leaving Levi’s version 48 percentage points below its predecessor.
The remake comes from Angel Studios and also stars Tommy Lee Jones, Neal McDonough, and Meg Fraser. Directed by Julio Quintana, the film is a PG-13 Western with a runtime of 105 minutes. It tells the story of a wounded outlaw who gets a second chance at life after a rancher’s daughter nurses him back to health, only to face pressure from a marshal and his old gang.
What the Rotten Tomatoes Numbers Show
The gap between the two films is hard to miss. The 1947 Angel and the Badman earned a 71% score from critics and a 67% audience rating from more than 5,000 reviews. It was written and directed by James Edward Grant and featured Gail Russell as Penelope Worth, the woman who helps Wayne’s character choose between revenge and peace.
The 2026 version currently sits at 23% with only 13 reviews counted, so the score could still move as more critics weigh in. Even so, the early reception points to a rough start. One review from The Film Yap‘s Christopher Lloyd was blunt about Levi’s performance:
“Levi fails to fill out the role to a satisfying degree… He feels like a kid playing dress-up in dad’s cowboy duds. The whole enterprise feels lightweight and inauthentic, in fact.”
The same review questioned whether the remake needed to exist at all, adding, “This ‘Angel’ fails the most basic test of every work of cinema: does this movie need to exist?”
Why the Original John Wayne Film Still Matters
Wayne’s Angel and the Badman was not just another Western for the actor. It was the first film he both produced and starred in, a move that showed how much he believed in the story. He put his own money behind it at a time when he was still building his standing in the genre. The film was noted for its softer approach, focusing more on persuasion and moral choice than on gunfights.
The original also had a strong supporting cast, including Harry Carey as a marshal who waits to see which path Evans will take. Collider included it in a December 2024 list of the “15 Most Underrated John Wayne Movies,” showing that its reputation has held up over the decades.
This is not the first time the story has been remade. In 2009, the Hallmark Channel aired a TV version directed by Terry Ingram, with Lou Diamond Phillips as Evans and Luke Perry as the rival gunman Laredo Stevens. Wayne’s grandson, Brendan Wayne, appeared in a supporting role. That version received middling reviews and has largely faded from view.
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What Critics Are Saying About the New Version
Reviews for the 2026 remake have pointed to uneven tone and a lack of energy. Variety called it “fitfully engaging” and said the new version “trades those virtues for plenty of sanctimony and not much of a spark.”
JoBlo was even harsher, writing that “the characters are very bland, and the story doesn’t have enough legs in the modern era. Angel and the Badman probably should have just stayed in the past.”
Not every review was negative. Fox 13 Now‘s Tony gave the film an A and called it “a terrific remake offering solid performances, humor and an edgier and darker script.” Manny the Movie Guy gave it 3 out of 4 kisses, noting that the film carries a message about “forgiveness, redemption, and the courage to change.”
Tommy Lee Jones received praise even in mixed reviews. Variety noted that he “stands out” in the supporting cast.
Box Office and Release Details
The film opened in 2,263 theaters and earned $2,063,407 in its opening weekend, landing at No. 9 on the domestic chart. It played on around 2,000 screens and faced competition from Other Mommy, which topped the weekend with $27.5 million. The budget for the remake was reported at $19 million.
For global audiences, Angel and the Badman released in U.S. theaters on October 9, 2026. The film is rated PG-13 for violence, bloody images, suggestive material, and language. It runs 1 hour and 45 minutes. International release details have not been widely confirmed, and viewers outside the United States should check local listings for availability.
The Cast Behind the Remake
Zachary Levi leads as Quirt Evans, the outlaw seeking redemption. Meg Fraser plays Penny, the rancher’s daughter who gives him a chance at a different life. Tommy Lee Jones appears as Marshal McClintock, and Neal McDonough plays the antagonist Laredo. The supporting cast includes Jean Louisa Kelly, Barrett Ellis Luca, Melissa Chambers, and Maurice Greene.
Julio Quintana directed the film, working from a script by Jaime Hernandez, Kevin M. Townsend, and Christopher Tuffin. Angel Studios produced the movie as part of a five-picture expansion to its 2026 slate.
Levi spoke about the challenge of taking on a role that Wayne made famous. In an interview with ComicBookMovie.com, he discussed “the challenge of stepping into John Wayne’s shoes” and previewed his take on the character.
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