Thescreescore – Zachary Levi’s latest foray into the Western genre, "Angel and the Badman," a contemporary reimagining of the 1947 John Wayne classic, has debuted to a notably frosty reception from critics. The film, which sees Levi take on the role of the notorious gunslinger Quirt Evans, currently holds a disappointing 23% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on its initial 13 reviews. This places the 2026 adaptation a staggering 48 percentage points below its iconic predecessor, which maintains a respectable 71% on the review aggregator nearly eight decades after its release.
While the critical consensus for "Angel and the Badman" could still shift as more reviews are tallied, the early indicators paint a challenging picture for the Western. Primary criticisms have coalesced around Levi’s performance, an inconsistent tonal delivery, and a perceived absence of the authentic Western ambiance expected from the genre.
Helmed by director Julio Quintana, the remake features a supporting cast including seasoned actors like Tommy Lee Jones, Neal McDonough, and Jean Louisa Kelly, with Meg Fraser portraying Penny. The narrative largely adheres to the original’s core premise, following Quirt, a wounded outlaw who finds solace and potential redemption on a ranch. There, he encounters Penny, and their burgeoning relationship forces him to confront his violent past and consider a path toward a peaceful future. A notable departure from the original, however, is the shift from the Quaker family’s specific religious beliefs to a more broadly Christian approach within the story.
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The 1947 "Angel and the Badman" was a significant entry in John Wayne’s extensive filmography, marking his debut as a producer. Starring opposite Gail Russell as Penelope Worth, the original film offered a distinctive take on the Western, prioritizing themes of romance, personal redemption, and nonviolence over the genre’s more traditional gunfights. While perhaps not always cited among Wayne’s most frequently rewatched works, it undeniably established a compelling narrative that Levi’s remake now attempts to revitalize for a modern audience. Beyond its critical acclaim, the original also boasts a solid 67% audience score from over 5,000 ratings, a benchmark the 2026 adaptation has yet to approach.
The critical struggles of "Angel and the Badman" stand in stark contrast to other successful modern Western remakes. The Coen brothers’ critically lauded 2010 adaptation of "True Grit," another reimagining of a John Wayne vehicle, achieved a near-perfect 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. Similarly, James Mangold’s "3:10 to Yuma" (2007) garnered an impressive 89%, and Antoine Fuqua’s "The Magnificent Seven" (2016) earned a respectable 64%. The 2026 "Angel and the Badman" finds itself considerably outpaced by these contemporary genre successes.
This early critical assessment also represents a departure from director Quintana’s prior filmography. His 2024 sports drama "The Long Game" earned an 82% critics’ score, while "Blue Miracle" (2021) and "The Vessel" (2016) achieved 68% and 67% respectively. Consequently, "Angel and the Badman" currently ranks as Quintana’s lowest-rated feature on the platform.
For Zachary Levi, this remake follows a series of films that have faced mixed critical responses. Both "Harold and the Purple Crayon" (28%) and "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" (49%) struggled with critics, yet paradoxically resonated much more strongly with audiences, securing impressive audience scores of 89% and 85% respectively. This trend highlights a potential disconnect between critical and public perception for Levi’s recent projects.
Whether "Angel and the Badman" can bridge this critical divide and find favor with moviegoers remains to be seen. The film officially premiered on October 9, 2026, and is currently playing in theaters.
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