“Taken Meets Rambo” 2-Part Action Thriller Sleeper Hit Is the No. 1 Franchise on Streaming

Although 2026 has already delivered action bangers like The Rip, The Furious and not one, but two high-octane movies by Jason Statham, an unknown two-part thriller has managed to overshadow the rest. Premiering on streaming in February 2026, the films mostly stayed in the background, but now that they have officially been released for U.S. audiences, both chapters have shot up the charts, making Ryan Phillippe the new king of streaming. Forget Rambo and Taken – this is the real deal.

Goodbye, Neeson and Statham: Enter a New Action Hero

The One Mile series consists of two feature films. Chapter One has a runtime of 89 minutes, while Chapter Two runs for 83 minutes. Combined, they make for an action thriller epic of less than three hours that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. The films star Ryan Phillippe alongside C. Thomas Howell and newcomer Amélie Hoeferle, and were directed by Adam Davidson, known for his work in Bosch: Legacy, La Brea, and I Will Find You. According to Phillippe, the series was inspired by an idea producer Aaron Kaplan came up with while traveling with his daughter Jaiden, who also serves as a producer. The two were alone in the middle of nowhere, and thought of the worst-case scenario.

Thus, One Mile: Chapter One follows roughly the same premise. Danny Beckett (Phillippe) is an ex-operative who’s trying to reconnect with his daughter Alex (Hoeferle) during a road trip. When they stop in a remote town controlled by an off-grid community, Alex is kidnapped. Forced to use his special skills, Danny hunts the locals who kidnapped Alex and whose sinister agenda consists of capturing young women. Chapter Two sends Danny on a similar mission, only this time Stanley Dixon (Howell), the man controlling the operation in the small town, shows he will stop at nothing to exact his revenge.

The ‘One Mile’ Films Have Become the No. 1 Movies on Streaming

The One Mile films first arrived on digital streaming platforms in February 2026. Months later, they premiered on Paramount+ in several major territories, where they found success with home viewers. After the streamer licensed them for distribution in other countries, the positive reception also spread, with both films becoming two of the most popular titles on the platform worldwide.

Now that they have premiered on Paramount+ in the U.S., both chapters of the One Mile series have become the most-watched movies on the platform. According to the latest update to the charts, One Mile: Chapter One and One Mile: Chapter Two sit at No. 1 and 2 on Paramount+’s rankings. The global rankings also show both entries at No. 8 and No. 9, respectively.

It is certainly an exciting success story for the small action franchise that could. Despite the absence of major stars and having to rely on an actor who isn’t known for his action roles, One Mile has managed to defy expectations and become a surprise hit that ranks above hugely popular titles such as Mean Girls and Scary Movie.

Release Date

February 20, 2026

Runtime

86 minutes

Director

Adam Davidson

Cast

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  C. Thomas Howell

  Stanley Dixon

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