From box office stumble to streaming second chance…
Not every film’s journey ends when the theater lights go up. For Tin Soldier, the 2025 action thriller starring Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx, a new chapter is about to begin. This time on streaming. Despite its rocky theatrical run and harsh critical reception, the film is set to arrive on Hulu on January 30th, 2026, expanding the platform’s action catalog and giving audiences another opportunity to decide its fate.
Originally released in U.S. theaters on September 12th, 2025—nearly three years after production began in 2022—Tin Soldier faced an uphill battle from the start. Internationally, the film debuted earlier, hitting Russia on May 29th, 2025, and the United Kingdom on July 23rd, 2025. While the movie featured a stacked cast and a premise rooted in high-stakes intrigue, it struggled to resonate with critics and domestic audiences upon release.
The reception was undeniably brutal. On Rotten Tomatoes, Tin Soldier currently holds a stark 8% critic score and a 10% audience score, placing it among the most heavily criticized action films of the year. For many, the numbers alone might suggest a film best left unwatched. However, streaming has a way of rewriting narratives and Tin Soldier has already proven that.
Despite its poor reviews, the film found surprising success overseas once it hit digital platforms. In June 2025, Tin Soldier reportedly cracked Prime Video’s global top 10, reaching the #9 spot worldwide on June 22nd. The performance highlighted a familiar industry trend: films dismissed in theaters can still find an audience when viewers encounter them on their own terms, free from opening-weekend expectations.
At its core, Tin Soldier is an action-adventure drama centered on Nash Cavanaugh (Foxx), a former Special Forces operative pulled back into a dangerous world he thought he had escaped. Tasked by government official Emmanuel Ashburn with infiltrating a secretive cult, Nash is sent to expose and dismantle its charismatic yet destructive leader, The Bokushi. The mission quickly becomes personal. The Bokushi is Nash’s former mentor, a man who not only betrayed him but also destroyed everything he loved, including his romantic partner. What follows is a revenge-driven descent into psychological warfare, manipulation, and violence.
The film was directed by Brad Furman, who co-wrote the screenplay alongside Jess Fuerst and Pablo F. Fenjves. Furman is no stranger to gritty, morally complex stories, having previously helmed The Lincoln Lawyer, The Infiltrator, and City of Lies. In addition to directing and writing, Furman also co-developed the story with Fuerst and produced the film alongside Steven Chasman, Keith Kjarval, Jim Seibel, and Brad Feinstein.
Beyond Foxx, Tin Soldier boasts a notable ensemble cast that includes Scott Eastwood, Robert De Niro, John Leguizamo, Rita Ora, Nora Arnezeder, Shamier Anderson, and Joey Bicicchi. On paper, it’s the kind of lineup that suggests prestige and intensity making its initial rejection all the more surprising.
As Tin Soldier prepares for its Hulu debut, the question remains: was this film unfairly dismissed, or does its critical reputation hold up under closer viewing? Streaming has become a space for rediscovery, and for viewers craving action-heavy thrillers with conspiracy-driven narratives, Tin Soldier may be worth revisiting. Sometimes, a second watch in a new setting can shift perspective. Whether Tin Soldier redeems itself or simply reinforces its controversial standing, its arrival on Hulu ensures that the conversation is far from over.
