Beast: 2026 Hollywood Mixed Martial Arts Action Drama Film Trailer, Review

Movie Name: Beast
Directed by: Tyler Atkins
Starring: Russell Crowe, Daniel MacPherson, Luke Hemsworth
Genre: Action, Drama, Sport
Running Time: 114 Minutes
Release Date: April 10, 2026
Rating:
Languages: English
Production House: Broken Open Pictures, Storm Alley Entertainment, Armagh Films, One Championship
Budget: $- million

A fisherman who once fought for a living agrees to one final return in ONE Championship after his brother’s death-forcing him to confront whether violence can ever set a family free.

Beast: Movie Overview

Beast is an upcoming sports action drama film set in the world of mixed martial arts, and starring Russell Crowe, Luke Hemsworth and Daniel MacPherson.

The film is produced by Broken Open Pictures and is directed by Tyler Atkins. Russell Crowe co-wrote the script with David Frigerio, who will produce alongside Tim O’Hair and John Schwarz. Crowe also leads the cast with Daniel MacPherson. The cast also includes Luke Hemsworth Mojean Aria, Kelly Gale, George Burgess, Bren Foster, Saphira Moran, and Australian musician Amy Shark, who makes her feature film debut.

One Championship are collaborating with the film. Principal photography took place in Bangkok at the Impact Arena, where One Championship’s Friday Fights live event on January 24, 2025 provided the setting for a key scene. Additional footage was filmed throughout the week-long event.

In October 2025, Lionsgate acquired the distribution rights.

Movie Trailer:

Movie Review:

Russell Crowe and Daniel MacPherson give this formulaic sports drama a fighting chance

Story:

Former MMA champion Patton James agrees to fight Xavier Grau after his younger brother Malon lands in serious trouble. As the big fight draws closer, it becomes his only chance to set things right.

Review:

‘Beast’ is a sports drama woven around mixed martial arts and a comeback that feels familiar from the very beginning. Directed by Tyler Atkins and co-written by Russell Crowe, the film never tries to surprise you with bold ideas. It knows exactly what kind of story it wants to tell and sticks to it with its linear structure. That honesty works in its favour, even if it means the film rarely steps outside its comfort zone. Some viewers may find that predictable, but the film benefits from keeping its focus on the fighting instead of unnecessary distractions. The final sequence packs a lot of energy, looks believable, and the actors put their best foot forward. Even when the drama loses steam, the action is enough to keep things moving.

The plot revolves around Patton James (Daniel MacPherson) who was once one of the best MMA fighters around. Now he spends his days working on a fishing boat near Sydney, trying to make ends meet with his wife Lucy (Kelly Gale), their young daughter and another baby on the way. Life becomes even harder after his younger brother Malon (Mojean Aria) gets into trouble following a crushing defeat at the hands of reigning champion Xavier Grau (Bren Foster). Buried in debt and desperate for help, Malon’s situation leaves Patton with little choice but to accept Xavier’s promoter’s offer of a high-profile One Championship fight against Xavier. To have any chance of winning, Patton must convince his former coach Sammy (Russell Crowe) to train him again. Sammy has his doubts, and Patton has plenty to prove before he can even think about stepping back into the ring.

There are very few surprises once the training begins. The film settles into a rhythm that most sports dramas follow, moving from setbacks and self-doubt to determination and the final showdown. Thankfully, the fight scenes have enough impact to stop the story from feeling routine. Every punch lands with force, and the choreography avoids flashy moves in favour of something that feels rough and believable. But the subdued moments of the film do not leave the same impression. Patton’s family life and financial struggles are important to the story, but they are explored only on the surface. A little more time with these characters would have made the emotional moments stronger. Even so, the film never drags and makes good use of its locations.

Daniel MacPherson gives the film its emotional centre. He plays Patton as a man who knows his best years are behind him but refuses to stop fighting when his family needs him. There is an honesty to his performance that makes it easy to root for him. Russell Crowe has a smaller role as Sammy, yet he brings authority to every scene he is in. Bren Foster makes Xavier an opponent worth fearing without turning him into a one-note villain. Luke Hemsworth is well cast as promoter Gabriel Stone, while Kelly Gale brings warmth to Lucy despite having only a handful of substantial scenes. The supporting cast does exactly what the story asks of them, even if none of the characters are given much depth.

‘Beast’ is not the kind of sports drama that changes your expectations of the genre, but it does enough to justify its choice of subject matter. The action is consistently engaging, the performances are committed, and the film never forgets that the fights are its biggest attraction. The drama outside the ring could have been stronger, and the characters deserved more attention than the screenplay gives them. Still, if you enjoy underdog stories and hard-hitting MMA action, there is enough here to make the journey worthwhile. It may not stay with you for long, but the film manages to deliver an honest, entertaining fight story without pretending to be anything more.