Picture Credit: Row K Entertainment
We’ve got some good news for those waiting to catch Gus Van Sant’s critically acclaimed hostage thriller Dead Man’s Wire on streaming. The 2026 true-crime movie, featuring an all-star cast led by Bill Skarsgård, is officially set to make its SVOD debut on Netflix US on May 28th, 2026.
Distributed theatrically by Row K Entertainment late last year (and made its way to digital in mid-February), Dead Man’s Wire first made waves after premiering out of competition at the Venice Film Festival in late 2025. It then received a wide theatrical release in the US on January 9th, 2026. Now, just a few months after its theatrical run, the tense 70s-era drama is making its way exclusively to Netflix on May 28th, 2026.
To date, this is the first time Netflix has teamed up with the newly established indie distributor Row K Entertainment, which has been in the headlines as of late for a slew of executive exits. The distributor is also behind Cliffhanger, Charlie Harper, and Poetic License.
What is the true story behind Dead Man’s Wire?
If you missed this one in theaters, you’re in for a wild ride. Based on a true story (and drawing heavily from the 2018 documentary Dead Man’s Line), the film winds the clock back to February 1977.
It follows Tony Kiritsis (Skarsgård), an Indianapolis man who, feeling cheated out of a commercial real estate deal by a corrupt mortgage company, takes matters into his own hands. Armed with a sawed-off shotgun, Tony takes mortgage broker Richard Hall hostage, rigging a “dead man’s wire” from the trigger to Hall’s neck—meaning if Tony is tackled or the cops shoot, the gun automatically goes off.
What follows is an intense 63-hour standoff broadcast live across the country. Tony quickly becomes a complicated, anti-hero figure for the working class, communicating his demands to the police and the public through smooth-talking local radio DJ Fred Temple.
Who is in the cast of Gus Van Sant’s ‘Dead Man’s Wire’?
Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Elephant), in his first feature film in six years, assembled an absolute powerhouse cast for this one. Here’s who you’ll see on screen:
- Bill Skarsgård (It, John Wick: Chapter 4) as the desperate and frantic Tony Kiritsis
- Dacre Montgomery (Stranger Things) as the terrified hostage, Richard “Dick” Hall
- Colman Domingo (Rustin, Euphoria) as radio DJ Fred Temple
- Al Pacino (The Irishman, Heat) as M.L. Hall, the sleazy mortgage magnate and Richard’s father
- Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride)
- Myha’la (Industry) as Page
Picture Credit: Row K Entertainment
Picture Credit: Row K Entertainment
Picture Credit: Row K Entertainment
Critical Reception: Should you watch it?
The movie drew heavy comparisons to 70s classics like Dog Day Afternoon and Network upon release, earning praise for its gritty, refurbished broadcast-camera look and Skarsgård’s captivating, live-wire performance. It’s currently sitting pretty with an impressive 91% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes with the Certified Fresh rating.
For more on what’s coming to Netflix in May 2026, keep it locked right here on What’s on Netflix as we continue to update our comprehensive monthly release guide.
Are you looking forward to catching Dead Man’s Wire when it drops on Netflix on May 28th? Let us know in the comments down below!
