Paramount+'s Survival Thriller Quietly Climbs Global Streaming Charts

The 2025 film 'Not Without Hope' based on a true story has found new life on the streaming platform.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:00pm

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An abstract close-up image featuring shattered glass and splintered wood textures in high-contrast studio lighting, conveying the tense, high-stakes nature of the survival story depicted in the film 'Not Without Hope'.The harrowing true story of 'Not Without Hope' finds new life on Paramount+ as a tense, character-driven survival thriller.Austin Today

A tragic 2025 survival thriller based on a terrifying true story has turned up in the Paramount+ top ten. The film, titled 'Not Without Hope', is directed by Joe Carnahan and stars Zachary Levi, Quentin Plair, Terrence Terrell, and Marshall Cook. Despite a disappointing theatrical run, the movie has found new life on the streaming platform and is currently one of the ten most-watched titles on Paramount+ in the U.S.

Why it matters

The success of 'Not Without Hope' on Paramount+ highlights how some survival thrillers can fade from the public discourse, even when they receive positive reviews, due to the dominance of big-name titles in the genre. The film's ability to find an audience on streaming demonstrates the continued appetite for tense, character-driven survival stories.

The details

Directed by Joe Carnahan, 'Not Without Hope' is based on the true story of four men, including NFL players Marquis Cooper and Corey Smith, who became stranded in the Gulf of Mexico in 2009. The film was released in 2025 to limited theatrical fanfare, only grossing $231,000 against an $18 million budget. However, the movie has since found success on Paramount+, where it is currently one of the top ten most-streamed titles on the platform in the U.S. Other popular films on the service include 'The Running Man', '2026 horror movie Primate', 'Top Gun: Maverick', and 'Regretting You'.

  • The film premiered at the Austin Film Festival in 2025.
  • Not Without Hope was released in theaters in 2025 to limited capacity.

The players

Joe Carnahan

The director of 'Not Without Hope'.

Zachary Levi

The lead actor in 'Not Without Hope', playing the role of Nick.

Quentin Plair

An actor in 'Not Without Hope', playing the role of Marquis.

Terrence Terrell

An actor in 'Not Without Hope', playing the role of Corey.

Marshall Cook

An actor in 'Not Without Hope', playing the role of Will.

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What they’re saying

“Not Without Hope doesn't get it all right, and there are a few stylistic missteps, as well as tonal ones, particularly as the action zeroes in on Nick as the sole survivor and seems to lose consideration for the other men's families.”

— Luna Guthrie, Collider Reviewer

The takeaway

The success of 'Not Without Hope' on Paramount+ demonstrates how some survival thrillers can find new life on streaming platforms, even if they struggled to find an audience in theaters. This highlights the continued demand for tense, character-driven stories in the genre, as well as the importance of streaming services in giving these types of films a second chance to connect with viewers.