J.K. Simmons’ 109-Minute Action Thriller Roars Back To Life On Streaming

Starz Published Sep 13, 2026, 1:35 PM EDT Hannah Gearan (she/her) is has been writing for ScreenRant for over three years. Her deep cinema love traces back to age 11, when she equipped herself with a spiral-bound notebook, rated all the films she watched, and declared herself a critic. About a decade later, she received a BA from Wesleyan University, where she studied Film, Environmental Studies, and Writing. Hannah’s short film, Toxic Faucets, has screened at numerous film festivals, including the Independent Film Festival of Boston (IFFBoston). As a Movie News writer now, she draws upon her vast experience studying, making, and analyzing film as she approaches dynamic breaking stories. Sign in to your ScreenRant account One of J.K. Simmons' lesser-known movie roles is getting new attention on streaming. With an Oscar win (for Whiplash) and several other key nominations to his name, Simmons is one of the most celebrated actors of his generation. He has maintained a steady career over the past several years, contributing both his on-screen live action talents and voice acting in key roles such as in Invincible. It is one of Simmons' older titles that is now doing well on streaming. 2012's Contraband is getting Netflix attention, reaching top 5 in the United States. The Baltasar Kormákur-directed title is an action heist film about a former smuggler who heads to Panama in a complex operation involving counterfeit bills. In addition to Simmons, the Contraband cast includes Mark Wahlberg, Caleb Landry Jones, Ben Foster, and Giovanni Ribisi. J.K. Simmons' Contraband Is Making A Streaming Comeback Contraband is killing it on the streaming charts over a decade after its theatrical release. It is now in fifth place on Netflix in the U.S. after being at number 10 and number six earlier in the week. In terms of the box office, the film did well. It grossed $96.2 million worldwide, which, while a modest showing for an action flick with large names attached, represented significant profit on its estimated $25 million budget. Critically, Contraband was less of a success. The movie got mixed reviews after its release, garnering a 50% Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes and an only slightly higher 57% Popcornmeter among audiences. Despite this mixed reception, there are factors that could be driving the movie's success now, including the Simmons draw, especially among those who have been more aware of his name recently through his upcoming role in the heavily advertised Heart of the Beast. Contraband Paved The Way For More Great Baltasar Kormákur Action Movies Beyond the Simmons tie-in, Contraband proved to be a key film for director Kormákur. Following the 2012 film, the Iceland-born director would go on to re-team with Wahlberg a year later, this time for the buddy cop crime comedy 2 Guns. Co-led by Denzel Washington, this movie would go on to eclipse Contraband's box office, grossing $131.9 million worldwide. Most recently, Kormákur directed this year's Apex. Unlike some of his previous action films, this was a straight-to-streaming release for Netflix earlier this year. Led by Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton, this Australian survival thriller fared far better than Contraband in terms of critical response, getting a 68% Tomatometer score. This trend accentuates how Contraband was able to pave the way for Kormákur to make even better films moving forward. Release Date January 13, 2012 Runtime 109 minutes Director Baltasar Kormakur