The Walking Dead and Punisher star Jon Bernthal can currently be seen in not one, but two of the year’s biggest blockbusters, with the actor starring in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and the MCU sequel Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Alongside these monumental successes, one of Bernthal’s earlier roles is now trending on streaming services ahead of its departure from a particularly popular platform. And it’s an action thriller that sees him sharing the screen with Taken’s Liam Neeson.
“Heist Thriller That Mixes Popcorn Entertainment With a Message”
Directed by Academy Award winner Steve McQueen, the true leads of this particular action thriller are a foursome of elite actresses — Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez and Elizabeth Debicki, and Cynthia Erivo in her film debut — who, after their master thief husbands (which includes Neeson and Bernthal) are seemingly killed during an armed robbery, find themselves working together to pull off a heist despite having zero experience.
Featuring an all-star cast that includes the main four alongside Jon Bernthal, Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Brian Tyree Henry, Daniel Kaluuya, Jacki Weaver, Carrie Coon, and Robert Duvall, 2018’s Widows remakes a 1983 British TV show to combine neo-noir and the sinister dealings and twists and turns that entails with explosive action thrills to craft something that was met with a near-perfect 91% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. “Widows rounds up a stellar ensemble for a heist thriller that mixes popcorn entertainment with a message – and marks another artistic leap for director Steve McQueen,” the consensus reads.
Viola Davis’ BAFTA-Winning ‘Widows’ Performance Is a Must-See
While critics adored this tale of a group of amateur thieves in over their heads, audiences were less enamored. Widows now stands at a far more mixed 61% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter, with the more critical reactions taking aim at “too many pointless subplots,” the slow pacing, and some “predictable” twists. However, there are still plenty of five-star ratings to be found among audience members, with two words showing up a lot as you scroll down: Viola Davis. “Amazing Viola Davis,” reads one reaction, with another adding, “Viola Davis steals the show like she often does A must see.” Davis went on to win the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance.
Though the audience response may have been a little mixed, the stacked cast and action thriller vibes have clearly enticed audiences at home, with Widows jumping in and out of the top 10 on 
Prime Video in the United Kingdom before it leaves the streaming platform in nine days’ time. But it’s good news for those in the United States and elsewhere, as Widows is currently available to stream on 
STARZ, Netflix, and HBO Max.