Few directors have defined the action-comedy genre quite like Shane Black, and after nearly a decade away from the game, he’s back in a big way. Play Dirty, Black’s new heist thriller starring Mark Wahlberg, is climbing the Prime Video charts fast, with the film currently dominating the streamer’s global top 10. For both Black and Wahlberg, it’s a much-needed win — and for fans, it’s proof the filmmaker still knows how to deliver high-octane fun with a sharp comedic bite.

Play Dirty adapts Donald E. Westlake’s legendary Parker novels, with Wahlberg stepping into the role of the skilled professional thief who lives by a strict code. The movie kicks off with a bloody betrayal after a horse track heist, when femme fatale Zen (Rosa Salazar) wipes out Parker’s crew and runs off with the money. But instead of ending his story there, she returns with a bigger play: a job to steal priceless jewels from a dictator and his criminal rivals.

Parker recruits his old friend Grofield (LaKeith Stanfield) along with a ragtag team — including married art thieves played by Keegan-Michael Key and Claire Lovering — to pull off the score. True to Black’s style, the action unfolds against a Christmas backdrop, mixing brutal showdowns with razor-sharp banter.

Is ‘Play Dirty’ Worth Watching?

Collider’s Nate Richard reviewed the film and gave it a 7/10, labeling it a positive return for Black after his sabbatical from the big screen. A highlight was the interactions between the stars and the sharp humor derived from the situations they found themselves in.

“Tihe witty back-and-forth banter between Wahlberg and Stanfield keeps the film going, while Key and Lovering also deliver some of the movie’s best and biggest laughs. If you watch Play Dirty expecting something on the level of The Nice Guys or Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, you will be disappointed. However, the latest action-comedy from Black proves that he’s still capable of delivering an equal parts funny and action-heavy comedy with all the trademarks that make us love him as a filmmaker. It’s a straight-to-streaming movie starring Mark Wahlberg, and considering some of the movie star’s other recent films, such as The Family Plan and The Union, Play Dirty is far better than you’d expect it to be.“

Play Dirty is streaming now on Prime Video.

Release Date

October 1, 2025

Runtime

125 Minutes

Director

Shane Black

Writers

Donald E. Westlake, Shane Black, Anthony Bagarozzi

Producers

James W. Skotchdopole, Jules Daly, Marc Toberoff, Robert Downey Jr.