In Hollywood history, there have been very few actors who have inspired so much passion from fans as John Wayne did during his truly legendary film career. As a result, the idea of starring in a remake of any of his movies seems like an incredibly unenviable task for anyone.
Despite how much pressure it would have put him under, Zachary Levi agreed to headline a 2026 remake of Wayne’s 1947 film Angel and the Badman. Now that it has been several days since the new film was released, it is amazing to note that it has surpassed the classic film in a significant and undeniable way.
How Zachary Levi’s ‘Angel and the Badman’ Remake Beat John Wayne’s Western Original
Shortly after Angel Studios released 2026’s Angel and the Badman, it became clear that many critics felt it was far inferior to the 1947 film. In fact, Men’s Journal even published an article pointing out how badly the original’s reviews crushed the remake. However, as more days have passed, the conversation comparing the two movies has taken on a new and unexpected dynamic.
John Wayne’s original version of Angel and the Badman has a much, much higher Rotten Tomatoes score than the remake, based on critics’ reviews. However, the remake now has a significantly higher Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes than the original, which is the metric based on users’ ratings.
Currently, the 1947 version of Angel and the Badman has a 68% Popcornmeter score. By comparison, the remake’s rating is significantly higher, since it has a 79% score in the same metric. While user ratings like the Popcornmeter can fluctuate over time as new users weigh in, Levi’s remake currently has a large lead.
In the modern entertainment landscape, it feels like it is more common than ever before for people to argue that critics don’t know what they are talking about. No matter how anyone feels about critics, virtually everyone agrees that fans are the people who pass the ultimate judgment on whether a film succeeded. As a result, the Angel and the Badman remake getting a solid Rotten Tomatoes score from users is a major accolade for everyone involved.
Next: 1968 Film Ranked the ‘Greatest Western Ending of All Time’ Called ‘So Dark’ It Is ‘Hard to Finish’
