The Promised Land Surges on Streaming Charts Amid Strong Reviews

LOS ANGELES, CA — Mads Mikkelsen takes on a heroic role in “The Promised Land,” an epic historical drama that is quickly becoming a streaming success. The film, which debuted on Paramount+ earlier this month, outperformed three entries from the popular “Mission: Impossible” franchise on June 6.

Despite “Mission: Impossible” generating significant interest during its theatrical run, “The Promised Land” finished third on the Paramount+ charts, surpassing other films like “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” “Ghost Protocol,” and “Rogue Nation.” However, it still trails behind the long-time number one, “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,” as well as Tom Cruise’s own “Top Gun: Maverick.” This week, “The Promised Land” amassed 359 points on the streaming platform.

Directed by Nikolaj Arcel, the Danish-language movie has received high praise, boasting a near-perfect score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. The site describes it as a journey through a harsh landscape navigated by Mikkelsen’s character, who seeks to build a new settlement while facing moral challenges from a cruel aristocrat. The consensus reads, “Mads Mikkelsen leads us through the savage terrain of The Promised Land with a glimmer of hope in this epic Nordic tale with Western bones.”

Collider emphasized the film’s paradoxical beauty and bleakness, noting, “The film is beautiful to behold in many moments, but… it is also consistently bleak.” The story focuses on Mikkelsen’s stoic character as he embarks on a daunting quest, navigating trials that test his moral core.

Mikkelsen, known for his portrayals of villains in films like “Casino Royale” and “Doctor Strange,” along with his leading role in the series “Hannibal,” has previously collaborated with director Arcel on “A Royal Affair.” Arcel’s last American project flopped; the science-fiction Western starring Matthew McConaughey and Idris Elba failed to gain traction both critically and commercially.

Fans of Mikkelsen and compelling cinema should check out “The Promised Land” on Paramount+, while staying updated with Collider for more news.