‘Peaky Blinders’ New Hero Shines in the 15-Year-Old War Epic Dominating Streaming

There are a lot of movies that get buried in an actor’s career once bigger hits start piling up. The Eagle is definitely one of those for Channing Tatum. It came out early enough that a lot of people either missed it or forgot it even existed, but streaming has a funny way of dragging these half-lost titles back into the light. That’s exactly what’s happening here.

The historical adventure has been charting high on HBO Max globally, giving the 2011 film a very sudden and very unexpected comeback. It’s a strong example of how quickly an older movie can catch on once it lands in front of the right audience.

The cast includes Tatum as Marcus Aquila and Jamie Bell — who recently made headlines with his new Peaky Blinders spin-off series — as Esca. Set in Roman Britain, the movie follows a dangerous mission beyond Hadrian’s Wall in search of a lost legion’s honor. It’s serious, physical, and much moodier than a lot of viewers may expect from a forgotten Tatum title. HBO Max has clearly helped it find new life.

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Is ‘The Eagle’ Worth Watching?

Roger Ebert’s review stated that The Eagle feels like the kind of adventure movie Hollywood does not make much anymore. It is a sword-and-sandals story built around a clear mission, rugged locations, and two leads who carry the film without needing huge spectacle. The movie keeps things grounded, and that helps it stand out. What works here is the scale. The fights feel physical and human instead of bloated with effects, and the movie shows real interest in its setting and time period. It is less about flashy action and more about survival, loyalty, and pride. Donald Sutherland also adds some welcome presence in a smaller supporting role.

“The Eagle is rated PG-13, and that’s about right. The blood and gore is kept to a reasonable level, and the battle scenes are about heroism and strategy, not special effects. The Eagle attempts to create characters with some dimension and complexity. During Donald Sutherland’s interlude as the wise uncle, it provides some notion of the function of empire, then and later. And Tatum and Bell do a good job of sculpting the heroes to a fairly human scale and not indulging in foolish poses against the horizon. The movie goes a little over the top in finally showing us the Eagle, but what can you expect?”

The Eagle is streaming now.

Release Date

February 8, 2011

Runtime

114 Minutes

Writers

Rosemary Sutcliff, Jeremy Brock