Gerard Butler's 129-Minute Action Movie Is Blowing Up On Streaming

Paramount Plus Published Aug 23, 2026, 6:16 PM EDT Growing up around performers, storytelling was always central to Emma's life. Add in a nerdy older brother who introduced her to Marvel at far too young an age, and her love for entertainment led her to pursue a Journalism degree at Indiana University, where she discovered her passion for entertainment reporting. She spent nearly one year in Los Angeles covering industry stories and fully immersing herself in the world of entertainment media. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Gerard Butler has built a career around action movies, from his breakout role as King Leonidas in 300 to leading the Has Fallen franchise as Secret Service agent Mike Banning. More recently, the actor has continued his streak with movies like Plane and Den of Thieves 2: Pantera. But one of Butler’s grittiest action movies saw him step away from his usual fictional heroes to take on the true story of a controversial real-life figure. The 2011 action drama, Machine Gun Preacher, is finding a new home on Paramount+. Butler stars as Sam Childers, a former biker and drug dealer who undergoes a major transformation before traveling to Africa and becoming involved in efforts to help children affected by war. Directed by Marc Forster, the 129-minute movie also stars Michelle Monaghan and Michael Shannon. Machine Gun Preacher is currently the #7 movie on Paramount+. Gerard Butler Takes on One of His Grittiest Roles Gerard Butler as Sam ChildersMichelle Monaghan, Madeline Carroll, and Gerard Butler in 'Machine Gun Preacher' Butler is no stranger to playing violent characters, but Machine Gun Preacher gives that familiar screen persona a different purpose. Sam begins the movie caught in a destructive cycle of drugs and crime before finding religion and eventually traveling to East Africa. After witnessing the effects of violence there, he becomes increasingly committed to helping children caught in the conflict, eventually putting himself directly in danger. The role shares some DNA with the action heroes Butler is best known for, while another one of his movies has recently found new audiences on Paramount+. Rather than protecting the president as Mike Banning or leading Spartans into battle as Leonidas, Butler portrays a real and controversial figure whose transformation drives the movie. Michelle Monaghan plays Sam's wife, Lynn, while Michael Shannon appears as his friend Donnie. Machine Gun Preacher Gets a Second Chance With Streaming Success Machine Gun Preacher didn't find much of an audience during its original theatrical run. The movie opened in limited release in September 2011 and ultimately earned only about $3.3 million worldwide against a reported $30 million production budget. Critics weren't particularly enthusiastic either, and the movie currently holds a 28% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, although its 62% audience score suggests viewers have responded more positively. Nearly 15 years later, streaming is now putting Butler's movie back in front of viewers. Its #7 position on Paramount+ gives Machine Gun Preacher a different kind of visibility from its original theatrical run and comes as Butler remains closely associated with the action genre. For fans who primarily know him as Leonidas, Mike Banning, or Den of Thieves' Big Nick O'Brien, the movie shows a grittier look at the action star with a different side of his familiar screen persona. Machine Gun Preacher is currently streaming on Paramount+. Release Date September 23, 2011