By Any Means is a 2026 American historical crime thriller directed by Elegance Bratton and written by Sascha Penn. The film stars Mark Wahlberg, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Nicole Beharie, David Strathairn, Josh Lucas, LisaGay Hamilton, LaChanze, Ethan Embry, and Giancarlo Esposito.
It follows young Black FBI agent Wayne Strider, who travels to 1960s Mississippi to investigate murders targeting civil rights leaders.
He is forced to work with notorious mafia hitman Greg Scarpa, creating an uneasy partnership between law enforcement and organized crime.
The film is inspired by true events and dramatizes a violent chapter of the American Civil Rights Movement. Paramount Pictures is releasing the movie theatrically on September 4, 2026.
By Any Means Age Rating
By Any Means is rated R by the MPA for violence/bloody images and pervasive language. The rating reflects the film’s violent crime story and frequent strong profanity.
Violence & Peril
Violence is strong and disturbing throughout the story. The trailer shows shootings, guns, threats, physical assaults, intimidation, and violent confrontations. Characters use brutal interrogation methods, including physically attacking suspects for information. The story also involves murders of civil rights leaders and racial violence connected to the Ku Klux Klan.
Vehicle being shot and references making people disappear. It also depicts a burning home and a violent threat against a family. These moments create a serious sense of danger rather than comic action. Parents should expect blood, injuries, shootings, murder investigations, and emotionally distressing historical violence.
Language
Language is strong and frequent, which is one of the reasons for the film’s R rating. The official trailer already contains repeated uses of strong profanity, including the F-word.
The film also uses racial slurs connected to its 1960s setting. The trailer includes historically charged racial terminology, so parents should be prepared for offensive language involving race. The language is likely to be particularly difficult for younger viewers because it appears within scenes about racial hatred and discrimination.
Mature Themes
The mature themes are very strong. By Any Means deals with racism, racial terrorism, murder, organized crime, corruption, vigilantism, and the failure of institutions to protect civil rights activists.
The story also explores the moral conflict between following the law and using violence to obtain justice. The central partnership forces characters to consider whether violent methods can ever be justified against violent extremists. Because the film is inspired by true events, some scenes may feel especially upsetting to younger viewers.
The trailer also shows references to death and threats against family members. Smoking and alcohol may appear as part of the film’s 1960s setting, although these are not the main focus of the story. There is no indication from the available trailer that sexual content is a major part of the film.
Is By Any Means Suitable for Teens?
Ages 13–15: No. By Any Means is not recommended for younger teenagers. The combination of strong violence, racial slurs, pervasive profanity, murder, and historical racial terror is too intense for most viewers in this age group.
Ages 16–17: With Guidance. Older teens may be able to watch the film with parental guidance if they are comfortable with serious historical material. Parents should be prepared to discuss racism, racial violence, organized crime, and the moral issues surrounding vigilantism.
Ages 18+: Yes. Adults are the film’s intended audience. Viewers who are comfortable with R-rated crime thrillers and difficult Civil Rights-era themes should be able to handle its content.
Final Recommendation: By Any Means is best suited for ages 17+, with parental guidance for mature older teens.
What Parents Can Do
- Explain that the film deals with real historical racism and violence, and that some language reflects the period being portrayed.
- Discuss the difference between justice, revenge, and vigilantism before or after watching the movie.
- Encourage older teens to talk about the Civil Rights Movement and the real events that inspired the story.
Official Trailer
FAQs
Q: What is the age rating for By Any Means?
A: By Any Means is rated R for violence/bloody images and pervasive language.
Q: Is By Any Means suitable for kids?
A: No. The movie contains strong violence, profanity, racial slurs, murder, and disturbing themes involving racial hatred.
Q: Is By Any Means suitable for teens?
A: Older teens may watch it with guidance, but it is not recommended for younger teenagers. The subject matter is serious and the violence is intense.
Q: Does By Any Means contain scary or violent scenes?
A: Yes. The film features shootings, physical assaults, threats, murder, violent interrogations, and scenes connected to racial terror. The trailer also shows a burning home and violent confrontations.
Q: Does By Any Means contain strong language or racial slurs?
A: Yes. Strong profanity is frequent, and the film includes historically offensive racial language connected to its Civil Rights-era setting. The trailer itself contains repeated strong profanity and racial terminology.
Q: Where can I watch By Any Means?
A: By Any Means is scheduled to open exclusively in theaters on September 4, 2026, distributed by Paramount Pictures.