A little-known action thriller is suddenly attracting major attention on streaming, with The Last Stand of Ellen Cole reaching No. 1 on Paramount+’s global movie chart.
The 2024 film centers on Ellen Cole, an 80-year-old widow living on a Montana ranch who has a dangerous secret: she is also a trained killer. When a powerful property developer attempts to drive her from her land, Ellen is forced to put those skills back to use.
Directed by Derek Lee and Cliff Prowse, the movie stars Lin Shaye as Ellen Cole, with Liz Caribel Sierra, Hart Bochner, Craig Tate, Ty Olsson and Karan Gill also appearing in the cast.
As of September 28, The Last Stand of Ellen Cole sits at the top of Paramount+’s worldwide Top 10 movie rankings. It currently ranks ahead of several recognizable titles, including Top Gun: Maverick, Scream 7, The Northman and World War Z.
The movie’s streaming performance extends across multiple markets. It has appeared in Paramount+’s Top 10 movies in 18 countries across South America, Central America, the Caribbean and North America.
In most of those markets, the film currently holds the No. 1 position. Brazil is the exception, where it sits at No. 6.
One notable limitation is that the movie is not currently available to stream on Paramount+ in the United States.
A Western With an Action-Thriller Edge
The film combines two familiar genres: the modern action thriller and the Western.
Rather than following a young action hero, the story places an elderly ranch owner at its center and gradually reveals that Ellen is far more capable of defending herself than her opponents expect.
The Montana ranch setting gives the movie a distinctly Western atmosphere, while Ellen’s combat skills and revenge-driven story push it toward more contemporary action territory.
That combination has drawn comparisons to the kind of rugged Western storytelling seen in projects associated with filmmaker Taylor Sheridan, while the character’s unexpected ability to take on heavily armed opponents gives the movie some of the appeal associated with films such as the John Wick series.
At around 96 minutes, The Last Stand of Ellen Cole also delivers its story without an especially long runtime.
The film’s current streaming performance suggests that the action-Western formula is finding a new audience several years after its original release.
