Netflix's New Western Mystery Thriller Breaks 3-Year Rotten Tomatoes Streak

Published Nov 13, 2026, 3:18 PM EST Fariba Rezwan is a Lead Editor for the Movie News team. She has been with ScreenRant for nearly five years, with roles ranging from list editor to junior news editor. During that time, Fariba has led coverage for breaking movies and TV news, including Hunger Games, Marvel, and streaming. Additionally, she has actively provided commentary and reactions to the biggest movies and shows on her YouTube channel, The Movieception Show. Netflix's new Western thriller finally ends a Rotten Tomatoes streak. As the streamer diversifies its catalog from period romances to comedies, it has emphasized the Western genre, especially after Paramount+ found major success with the Yellowstone franchise. As a result, Netflix distributed multiple Western series, including Little House on the Prairie, Ransom Canyon, and American Primeval. Now, their focus has expanded into movies, including a new mystery thriller, Heartland, starring Jessica Chastain, Garrett Hedlund, John Hawkes, and Carter Faith. With 11 reviews, Heartland debuts with a strong 82% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Although that rating could change as more reviews come in, it's Chastain's first movie in three years to earn a "fresh" score. Her last critically acclaimed movie was the 2023 drama Memory (86%). Since then, the Oscar winner has had back-to-back movies that underwhelmed critics and audiences, including her recent critically panned Blumhouse horror, Other Mommy. Jessica Chastain's Last 5 Movies Rotten Tomatoes Critics' Score Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score Memory (2023) 86% 71% Mothers' Instinct (2024) 55% 46% Dreams (2025) 52% 30% Other Mommy (2026) 19% 48% Heartland (2026) 82% N/A Heartland follows Chastain's protagonist, a former country singer who investigates her niece's disappearance in Nashville. Most critics praise Netflix's Western thriller for its fast-paced, straightforward story, powered by Chastain's no-nonsense and commanding performance. The movie also balances its Southern country charm, especially through its backdrop and music. In ScreenRant's review of Heartland, Alexa Harrison wasn't as impressed by the Western thriller but agrees that Chastain's performance is the clear standout. As a result, it makes the movie "watchable" because "she turns her protagonist into a commanding and wholly compelling presence." Otherwise, the thriller aspects are "disappointingly thin," which led to a 5-out-of-10 rating. While making the movie, Chastain has an on-screen duet with Jennifer Nettles. Despite the Oscar-winning vow not to sing again after George & Tammy, she made an exception for Netflix's Western thriller after director Shauna Fest "changed" her. However, in an interview with People Magazine, Chastain declared that she was "done" with singing before changing her stance: "You never know." Heartland is only the second Netflix Original movie starring Chastain. They previously collaborated on the crime biopic The Good Nurse in 2022, which also received fairly positive reviews. Meanwhile, Chastain, who won her first Oscar for The Eyes of Tammy Faye, released two movies in just under a month. Although Other Mommy earned negative reviews, it became a box-office hit, grossing $116 million. Choose the movie with the higher Rotten Tomatoes score. The Western thriller proves a major bounce back for Chastain's filmography, and she has multiple TV and movie projects in the works. She is set to portray Goneril in the William Shakespeare adaptation, Lear Rex, followed by the crime thriller My Darling California. Meanwhile, Apple TV's The Savant is aiming for a release sometime in 2027, after it was delayed due to the Charlie Kirk assassination. Feste wrote and directed the Heartland screenplay, and producers include Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Randall Poster, and Jason Owen. Heartland is now playing on Netflix. Release Date November 13, 2026 Director Shana Feste Writers Shana Feste Producers Jenno Topping, Peter Chernin, Jason Owen, Mark Anthony Little, Randall Poster Cast