A modern western film has suddenly become a success on streaming, and the sleeper hit is shooting up the charts on Amazon Prime Video. The genre is not as popular as it once was, but westerns can still be effective in the 21st century. Blending action, period costumes, and complex moral characters, the western is still versatile if handled correctly. Some modern westerns seek to deconstruct the old ideals, and the anti-western subgenre is all about dispelling the idealized vision of the American West. However, other modern westerns are a bit more straightforward, and aim to capture the fun grandeur of a bygone era of cinema. Both can be popular, but it has to be under the right circumstances. Now, less than a year after it debuted in theaters back in September 2024, The Thicket has quickly become a streaming hit on Amazon Prime Video. As noted by Flix Patrol, the Peter Dinklage and Juliettte Lewis vehicle made the charts on June 30, and has maintained the eighth position since then. It’s the first time the movie has had wide exposure, and its theatrical release was limited. It was acquired by Tubi, but the modern western failed to gain much traction. On Prime Video however, it’s joined the likes of Twisters, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and The Accountant in the top ten, and it’s unclear exactly how high it will rise.

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What Streaming Success Means For The Thicket

This Is The Best Possible Scenario For The Western

The critically-acclaimed western was not meant to be a massive theatrical release, and streaming was where the movie was bound to end up. It did have a short run in cinemas, but with Tubi attached, The Thicket was seemingly designed to end up as a streaming-exclusive product.

there’s no reason to think that the movie won’t stick around on the charts for a while.

As such, there’s really no shelf life for the movie’s success, and making the top ten on Amazon Prime Video is the best possible scenario. Peter Dinklage is a popular enough actor to draw interest, and there’s no reason to think that the movie won’t stick around on the charts for a while.
Our Take On The Thicket’s Streaming Success

Prime Video Produces More Than A Few Surprise Hits

Though there was nothing wrong with The Thicket, it wasn’t a movie destined to become an overnight sensation. The competently made western is mostly anchored by its star power, and it’s a fun little movie that will likely be forgotten in a few years. With that said, I’m surprised that it made the top ten on Amazon Prime Video.

The rest of the chart is populated by theatrical blockbusters, and Prime Video’s top ten is usually clogged with the biggest movies from the past few years. It’s nice to see a strong passion project get some attention, though the western probably won’t become a stalwart part of Prime Video’s charts.

The Thicket

Release Date

September 5, 2024

Runtime

108 Minutes

Director

Elliott Lester

Writers

Chris Kelley, Joe R. Lansdale