Josh Hartnett’s True-Crime Drama Target Number One Is a Hit on Paramount+

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He first became famous as a teen idol in movies like The Virgin Suicides, Pearl Harbor, and 40 Days and 40 Nights. He’s continued acting with roles in projects like Sin City and Penny Dreadful. Now, a lesser-known crime drama he starred in is gaining popularity as a streaming hit on Paramount+.

The movie Target Number One, also known as Most Wanted in the US, is becoming increasingly popular on streaming services. According to FlixPatrol, it’s now among the top 10 most-watched films in the United States this week. The film is a Canadian crime drama based on the real-life story of Alain Olivier, a man battling addiction who was falsely accused of a crime while in Thailand.

Josh Hartnett Plays a Real-Life Journalist

The film Target Number One, also known as Most Wanted, features Josh Hartnett as journalist Victor Malarek. Malarek investigated the case of Alain Olivier, a Canadian man falsely accused of drug trafficking in Thailand. Olivier was sentenced to death and spent eight years in a Thai prison before his wrongful conviction was discovered and he was released.

I recently watched Target Number One, and it’s a really compelling film! Antoine Olivier Pilon does a fantastic job playing Daniel Léger, who’s based on the true story of Alain Olivier. The movie also features Jim Gaffigan as a shady dealer named Picker, and he actually sets Daniel up with the Canadian police. What’s even more interesting is that the director, Daniel Roby, spoke with both Alain Olivier and the journalist, Victor Malarek, who originally covered the story. It turns out Olivier wrote a book about his experiences – it’s called Good Luck Frenchy, and it details his time dealing with RCMP deception and surviving a really tough prison in Thailand. It adds a whole other layer to the film knowing it’s based on something so real.

Target Number One Received Mixed Reviews

According to Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave the film a 68% rating, while audiences scored it at 49%. Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times noted that Most Wanted is a bit lengthy and uneven, but remains a good adaptation of an incredible true story.

Leslie Felperin of the Guardian rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, noting its visuals reminded her of 1970s crime dramas like Midnight Express and The French Connection, which she considered a positive. Alan Ng, writing for Film Threat, highlighted the strong performances from actors Hartnett, Pilon, and Gaffigan in Most Wanted.

The film Target Number One didn’t achieve significant success upon its release. However, the COVID-19 pandemic heavily impacted how movies and TV shows performed at the time, so it’s understandable that Target Number One didn’t make a big splash, despite receiving generally mixed to positive reviews.

The film Target Number One, starring Josh Hartnett, is gaining popularity on streaming services. Based on a true story of injustice, it’s connecting with viewers and has recently climbed into the Top 10 on Paramount+ six years after its initial release. The crime drama offers enough suspense and intrigue to keep audiences engaged.

Target Number One is available to stream on Paramount+ in the United States.

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2026-05-24 01:06