Academy Award-nominee Tom Hardy has become well-known for dedicating himself to becoming the characters he portrays, who are often tough, violent, and a little unhinged. But none more so than in what would become his breakout role, which is now all set to hit a new streaming home.
Released back in 2008 and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, Bronson unleashes Tom Hardy as the real-life bare-knuckle boxer and notorious prisoner Michael Peterson, aka Charles Bronson. Infamous for being one of the longest-serving prisoners in U.K. history after spending most of the last 50 years behind bars, Bronson allows a bulked-up Hardy to throw his weight around in the expert way that he does, while also allowing him to lean into his more flamboyantly theatrical side.
Alongside Hardy, the rest of the cast includes Matt King, James Lance, Amanda Burton, Kelly Adams, Juliet Oldfield, Jonathan Phillips, and Hugh Ross. Bronson is all set to hit HBO Max on October 1, 2025, and you can check out the official synopsis for the crime drama below…
In this drama based on a true story, there’s no one tougher or more brutal in the English penal system than prisoner Michael Peterson, aka Charles Bronson (Tom Hardy). First incarcerated after robbing a jewelry store, the married Bronson is sentenced to seven years. But his incorrigible, savage behavior quickly gets him in trouble with guards, fellow inmates and even a dog. The only place where Bronson can’t do any harm is in solitary confinement, where he spends most of his time.
‘Bronson’ Helped Shoot Tom Hardy to Superstardom
Watching Bronson, it’s clear why it shot Tom Hardy towards superstardom. The actor, who is now best-known for roles in the likes of Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, The Revenant, Mad Max: Fury Road, the Venom franchise, and the recent gangster series MobLand, is truly set free to show-off what makes him such a magnetic presence as he somehow crafts a Charles Bronson that is both terrifyingly manic and oddly endearing.
Bronson was met with solid reviews upon release, landing scores of 75% from critics and 74% from audiences on the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes. “Undeniably gripping, Bronson forces the viewer to make some hard decisions about where the line between art and exploitation lies,” the critics’ consensus reads. Much of the praise was aimed at Hardy, with one critic saying, “Hardy does an admirable job of making this monster human, which he achieves with surprising wit and a visceral, attention-grabbing passion,” while another adds, “the film can barely contain Tom Hardy’s performance. It’s a Method turn so bloodily immersive it’s hard to imagine the actor getting his head straight afterwards.”
Since the release of Bronson, Tom Hardy has become a Hollywood staple and sought-after A-lister. The actor is now all set to return as expert “fixer” Harry Da Souza in the upcoming second season of the hit crime drama, MobLand, which is expected to debut on Paramount+ in 2026.
- Release Date
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October 9, 2008
- Runtime
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92 minutes
- Director
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Nicolas Winding Refn
- Writers
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Brock Norman Brock
- Producers
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Allan Niblo, James Richardson, Kate Ogborn, Nick Love, Rupert Preston, Thor Sigurjonsson, Jane Hooks, Rob Morgan, Simon Fawcett, Danny Hansford, Paul Martin, Sean Faughnan, Suzanne Alizart
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Michael Peterson / Charles Bronson
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