Paramount+ streaming charts recently witnessed an unexpected upset as the neo-Western filmThe Last Stand of Ellen Cole, headlined by 82-year-old Lin Shaye, claimed the top global spot—despite lacking a Rotten Tomatoes score. The film narrowly surpassed Top Gun: Maverick, one of the biggest box office hits of the last half-decade, on November 15. Although Ellen Cole slipped to number three the following day, it continued to lead Maverick, which dropped to fourth place after a recent resurgence.

The movie follows Shaye’s character, an elderly Montana rancher who refuses to be pushed off her land by a persistent developer. The Last Stand of Ellen Cole was co-written by Jalmari Helander, the acclaimed 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 received widespread critical acclaim, boasting over 475 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, Ellen Cole currently has no listed score or reviews on the site.

This triumph by a lesser-known title highlights a Western revival, with Paramount+ emerging as a key platform. The resurgence has been fueled by the studio’s partnership with Taylor Sheridan, producing hits like Yellowstone and spin-offs 1923 and 1883, alongside neo-Western series such as Landman and crime dramas Tulsa King and Mayor of Kingstown. Reports indicate this collaboration may soon wind down due to shifts in studio leadership.

Beyond Lin Shaye, known for her Insidious roles and as a “Scream Queen,” the film features Hart Bochner and Paul Lazenby. Meanwhile, Top Gun: Maverick, released May 27, 2022, runs 130 minutes and is directed by Joseph Kosinski, with screenwriters Ashley Miller, Justin Marks, Peter Craig, and Zack Stentz. As a sequel in the iconic franchise, it stars Tom Cruise and Miles Teller in an action-packed narrative. The unexpected success of The Last Stand of Ellen Cole underscores the unpredictable dynamics of streaming viewership on platforms like Paramount+.