Paramount+ streaming charts recently witnessed an unexpected upset as the neo-Western film, "The Last Stand of Ellen Cole," headlined by 82-year-old Lin Shaye and notably lacking a Rotten Tomatoes score, claimed the top global spot. This surprising achievement meant the movie edged past "Top Gun: Maverick," one of the biggest box office hits of the last half-decade, on November 15. Although "The Last Stand of Ellen Cole" slipped to the number three spot a day later, it continued to lead "Maverick," which subsequently dropped to fourth place after a recent resurgence.

The film centers on Lin Shaye's character, an elderly woman who steadfastly refuses to be muscled out of her Montana ranch by a persistent land developer. "The Last Stand of Ellen Cole" was co-written by Jalmari Helander, the acclaimed writer and director behind the word-of-mouth hit "Sisu" and its upcoming sequel, "Sisu: Road to Revenge." The contrast with "Top Gun: Maverick" is stark; while "Maverick" was one of the best-reviewed movies of 2022, boasting over 475 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, "The Last Stand of Ellen Cole" currently has no official score or even a single listed review on the aggregator website.

This triumph by a lesser-known title underscores a broader trend: Westerns are experiencing a significant revival, with Paramount+ positioned as a key torchbearer. This resurgence has largely been fueled by the platform's partnership with Taylor Sheridan, a collaboration that has yielded numerous successful shows such as "Yellowstone" and its spin-offs like "1923" and "1883," alongside neo-Western series like "Landman" and crime dramas "Tulsa King" and "Mayor of Kingstown." However, this pivotal partnership is reportedly nearing its end due to changes in studio leadership.

Beyond Lin Shaye, who is widely known for her role in the "Insidious" franchise and as a "Scream Queen," "The Last Stand of Ellen Cole" also features performances by Hart Bochner and Paul Lazenby. Meanwhile, "Top Gun: Maverick," the critically acclaimed film it surpassed, was released on May 27, 2022, and runs for 130 minutes. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, its screenwriting team included Ashley Miller, Justin Marks, Peter Craig, and Zack Stentz. As a sequel within the iconic "Top Gun" franchise, it stars Tom Cruise and Miles Teller in a thrilling action-drama-war narrative. The unexpected success of "The Last Stand of Ellen Cole" against such a formidable title showcases the diverse and often unpredictable dynamics of streaming consumption on platforms like Paramount+.