Max has announced that Juror #2, Clint Eastwood’s latest (and likely final) movie, will arrive on the streaming service on December 20th.
The announcement comes after a bit of controversy surrounding the film’s release — Warner Bros., Juror #2’s distributor, chose an extremely limited release, screening the movie in fewer than 50 domestic theaters before it inevitably headed to Max. Furthermore, the studio opted for little-to-no advertising, declined to report domestic ticket sales, and even initially removed it from the awards page of their website.
The minimized strategy is said to be an effort by the studio to protect Eastwood from a major box office or critical disappointment. Yet, despite having strong audience impressions (including over-performing in the UK and Europe, where it was given a wider release) and favorable reviews, Warner Bros. still seems totally indifferent to giving Eastwood’s film a larger release.
Even director Guillermo del Toro wondered why Eastwood’s work was getting stifled by the studio, raving about the film on Bluesky. “Went to the theatre to see Juror#2, Clint Eastwood’s latest film. We enjoyed it tremendously,” Del Toro wrote. “Why was this not released wide in the states? We saw at the Grove with a significant crowd that was vocal and responsive all the way. I truly hope WB can hold it longer. Eastwood is a master filmmaker and the steady, unfussy craft reveals him still in great form. Go see it on the big screen!”
Eastwood has held a longstanding relationship with Warner Brothers: Since 1971, he’s directed, written, produced, or starred in 46 films for the studio, including major box office successes in the last decade like American Sniper and The Mule. His previous film for the studio was 2021’s Cry Macho, which underperformed at the box office — though Cry Macho was part of WarnerMedia’s infamous Project Popcorn initiative, where pandemic-era releases were simultaneously launched in theaters as well as on Max.
Written by Jonathan Abrams, Juror #2 is a legal drama that follows Justin Kemp (Nicholas Hoult) as he serves on a jury for a high-profile murder case. As the details of the crime surface, Kemp realizes he may have played a significant role in the murder himself. The film also stars Toni Collette, Zoey Deutch, J.K. Simmons, Kiefer Sutherland, Chris Messina, and more.
Liz Shannon Miller, our Senior Entertainment Editor, gave Juror #2 a positive review, while also noting that the minimized release strategy is an omen for how studios treat non-blockbuster projects: “Warner Bros.’s handling of it makes it also feel like a bellwether for the rest of the industry, a sign that there really isn’t room for movies like this at the major studios anymore. Want big stars grappling with Earth-bound moral quandaries? That’s what the indies and television are for now, and that is admittedly a pretty robust option these days. (Say the word, Clint, and Apple TV+ will be at your front door with a greenlight for a six-episode limited series.)”
Juror #2 is out in select theaters now, and will land on Max on December 20th. Get started with Max here.