**By Any Means**, the Elegance Bratton-directed historical crime thriller starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Wahlberg, opened in theaters September 4 to mixed critical reception that has settled the Tomatometer at 47% from 72 reviews. Critics have highlighted tonal clashes between prestige drama and exploitation thrills, with Wahlberg’s performance frequently cited as over-the-top alongside the film’s uneven handling of its civil rights-era premise. Audience scores have proven far stronger at 87%, reflecting approval for the leads’ chemistry and propulsive pacing. Pre-release markets had priced in a low-70s outcome, but post-release reviews quickly shifted sentiment toward a “rotten” final score. Additional critic notices and potential review volume changes remain the key near-term variables for traders.