Jennifer Lawrence’s R-Rated 'Black Widow' Replacement Officially Debuts on HBO Max

A spy thriller arrives on HBO Max

Red Sparrow is now available in HBO Max’s library, more than eight years after its theatrical debut. Its arrival comes amid renewed interest in espionage stories, following the recent end of Slow Horses’ sixth season and ahead of Black Doves’ second season.

The movie was a solid theatrical hit, released during a high point in Jennifer Lawrence’s popularity. But its mostly mixed reviews held back its broader appeal.

A potential franchise that stalled

Red Sparrow draws on a trilogy of novels written by a former CIA officer. A larger box-office success or stronger critical response could have helped the film become the start of a franchise. The story also shares a stylized, real-world take on a premise associated with Marvel’s Black Widow, released three years later, and Ballerina, which opened theatrically in 2025.

Three films, mixed outcomes

All three movies fell short of expectations, both with critics and commercially, though for different reasons. Black Widow led the group with a global haul of $380 million. It also had the highest Rotten Tomatoes score among the three, at 79%.