Taylor Sheridan’s Best Villain Actor Gets Streaming Redemption With Underrated Post-Apocalyptic Action Thriller

Credit: ABACA/INSTARimages.com Published Sep 2, 2026, 10:30 AM EDT Nick Bythrow is a Lead Writer for ScreenRant. He has been writing for the site since September 2022. He graduated from Hampshire College in 2022, where he triple majored in Journalism, Communications, and Media Studies. When he's not writing about TV and movies for ScreenRant and his blog, Frayed Branches, Nick is penning speculative fiction and poetry on Amazon. He lives outside Boston, Massachusetts. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Taylor Sheridan's best villain actor has earned redemption on streaming with the success of their underrated, post-apocalyptic action thriller film. Across all of Sheridan's many TV shows, there have been plenty of notable actors who've taken the villain spotlight, especially in his most popular ventures. From Danny Huston as Dan Jenkins in Yellowstone to Lennie James as Frank Moses in Mayor of Kingstown, there have been many noteworthy performances across his TV series. His best villain actor, however, is Neal McDonough, who portrayed key antagonists Malcolm Beck in Yellowstone and Cal Thresher in Tulsa King. While McDonough is great at portraying a villain, he's recently earned the opportunity to play a hero in a movie that's swiftly become a streaming juggernaut. That film is Homestead, a 2024 Christian post-apocalyptic movie starring McDonough as survivalist prepper Ian Ross. The movie showcases his survival in a mansion homestead after a nuclear apocalypse, allying himself with former Special Forces soldiers in a fight for survival. According to data from September 2, 2026, Homestead is now the Number 1 movie on Paramount+ in the United States, giving the actor a noteworthy new role in the process. Homestead Shows A Different Side Of Neil McDonough Homestead is a Christian movie that sees McDonough in a very different role contrasted with his Sheridan series characters. While he's best known for his ruthlessness as Malcolm and for having the complex layers of an anti-hero as Cal, here the actor is portrayed in a less antagonistic light. His Western-inspired character is doing everything he can to protect his family and loved ones, as he wrestles with who to let onto his ranch in the midst of nuclear destruction. However, he's not a villain, and is instead trying to keep a balanced peace after a world-altering event. If anything, he showcases a balanced characterization akin to John Dutton, doing what he can to keep those he loves safe while still operating amid the destructive force of a nuclear apocalypse. However, the film remains steeped in Christian themes as well, with the movie having been distributed by Angel Studios, best known for their work on TV shows like The Chosen and other stories that evoke religious themes. Such is the case with Homestead and McDonough's portrayal of Ian. Why Homestead Is A Streaming Hit Homestead not only gives McDonough the flexibility to be more than his villain typecasting, but also to showcase a unique Western-style movie that also hits on ideas involving the apocalypse. Couple this with a Christian slant, and the movie provides a compelling take on nuclear apocalypse through a notably religious angle. While Homestead reviews from critics have been mixed, its Number 1 spot shows audiences find the mash-up of genres to be compelling, especially with McDonough in the leading role. It helps that his previous work in Sheridan TV shows make him a familiar face, with his role in the movie being different enough to spark intrigue. Since Homestead has only just reached the top spot on Paramount+ in the United States, the movie could continue to prove itself a major success going forward as its time on the platform continues. Release Date December 20, 2024 Runtime 111 minutes Director Ben Smallbone Writers Jason Ross Producers Ben Kasica, Andrea Royer, Ben Smallbone