By Any Means

"The FBI couldn't crack it. So they called in the mob."

2026 1h 47m EN

🙌

7.5

BANGER

★7.5TMDB · 27

HistoryCrimeDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In 1960s Mississippi, a young Black FBI agent is forced to partner with a notorious mafia hitman to investigate a wave of brutal civil rights murders.

“The FBI couldn't crack it. So they called in the mob.”

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Cast

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Wayne Strider
Mark Wahlberg
Gregory Scarpa
Nicole Beharie
Allison Strider
Josh Lucas
Special Agent Everett Rhodes
David Strathairn
Special Agent Roy K. Moore
Giancarlo Esposito
Vernon Dahmer
Ethan Embry
Sam Bowers
LisaGay Hamilton
Ms. Rebecca Brewer

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Elegance Bratton
Writers: Sascha Penn
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America, Australia, United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 47% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released this year — you're seeing it while it's still in the cultural conversation.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: United States of America, Australia, United Kingdom.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Elegance Bratton, shot by Ante Cheng. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Terence Blanchard. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Kristan Sprague shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Wahlberg and Nicole Beharie carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The FBI couldn't crack it. So they called in the mob.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Elegance Bratton directs. Ante Cheng behind the camera. Terence Blanchard scores. Kristan Sprague cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America, Australia, United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 47% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released this year — you're seeing it while it's still in the cultural conversation.
3International production across 3 countries: United States of America, Australia, United Kingdom.
4Directed by Elegance Bratton, shot by Ante Cheng. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Terence Blanchard. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Kristan Sprague shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Wahlberg and Nicole Beharie carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "The FBI couldn't crack it. So they called in the mob.".
9IMDB entry: tt34379051 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 27 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
11Classified under 10 themes, including "hitman", "ku klux klan", "based on true story", "mafia".