How to watch Sicario starring Emily Blunt and Benicio Del Toro after its Netflix exit

Few thrillers of the last decade have left as striking an impression as Sicario. The tense 2015 thriller mixed white-knuckle action with sobering observations on the haunting realities of the drug war. The film was not only lauded for its suspenseful storytelling but also for the direction by Denis Villeneuve and the writing by Taylor Sheridan.

What separates Sicario is its striking mix of atmospheric direction and evocative acting, combined with Sheridan’s unsentimental yet evocative work. A decade later, viewers continue to revisit its tale for how it subverts ideas of justice, order, and the cost of survival in a chaotic terrain. With its raw depiction of violence and of the blurry lines separating law enforcement from the fight against cartels, Sicario became a modern classic in the crime genre.

Where to watch Sicario, cast details, and streaming updates

After a stint on Netflix, Sicario recently left the streaming platform and will be coming to Peacock on September 1. This makes sure that viewers who missed the movie during its Netflix run will still have a chance to check out the acclaimed feature in a new streaming home.

Sicario has an ensemble cast, which includes Emily Blunt as Kate Macer, an F.B.I. agent enlisted to a cross-border task force. Josh Brolin stars as CIA operative Matt Graver and Benicio Del Toro as Alejandro Gillick, a shadowy figure whose motives come to light with a horrific intensity. The cast also features Daniel Kaluuya, Victor Garber, and Jon Bernthal, adding layers of tension and realism.

The movie has been frequently praised as one of Sheridan’s greatest screenwriting accomplishments before his modern hit television shows like Yellowstone, Tulsa King, and Lioness. For those who enjoy his storytelling techniques, watching Sicario on Peacock is an opportunity to revisit some of his earlier work, which largely determined his career path.

What Sicario is about, Taylor Sheridan’s insights, and whether it is based on true events

The film begins with FBI agent Kate Macer being recruited into a black-ops mission to bring down a powerful Mexican cartel. Her mission propels her from the United States into Mexico, within a story where the edges between legality and morality are blurred.

It is a work of fiction, even though some characters are based on real people. Sheridan said in an interview with Variety that he was looking to explore more profound themes about law and violence. He noted:

"It was literally, to me, the most shocking thing about the architects of the drug trade, their willful use of violence as a method of doing business. And it’s literally that impersonal to them. Effective ways of using violence to control a populace — that’s what they do. And it isn’t just killing. It’s killing and mutilating, displaying — it’s terrorism, essentially, except it’s not to achieve a political goal, it’s to make money."

Sheridan also acknowledged the extent of his research, further adding:

“It’s a pretty easy thing to research if you want to, as far as an understanding of the calamity that was taking place at the time I wrote the screenplay. There’s a tremendous amount of various blogs and writers in Mexico who have written some very poignant and tragic things about it. I went there, but there’s a certain amount of how I did some research that I’m not sharing with anyone.”

Though the film is not explicitly based on a true story, its emphasis on the real-life dynamics of the drug wars has a deeper twist. Sheridan emphasized to Variety that his goal was to explore philosophical questions about the rule of law, consumer appetite, and the cost of violence rather than to offer political solutions.

Sicario 3 updates and Josh Brolin’s take on the franchise future

There has been constant speculation surrounding a third movie since the release of Sicario: Day of the Soldado in 2018. For years, fans have wondered whether Sheridan would return to this morally fraught world of cartels, covert missions, and murky justice. Recently, Josh Brolin spoke about it in an interview with Variety, indicating that there are talks around the third installment of the film.

Brolin revealed:

“There’s a script, it’s still very much in the works. People want to see it. Benicio and I talk about it, and we’re both in if the timing is right. It’s just a matter of when the stars align.”

No release date has been announced but with a script already written and core cast members still interested a third film remains in the realm of possibility. For now, fans can revisit the first two films, with Sicario shifting to Peacock and Day of the Soldado still available on several on-demand platforms.