Can a Marvel-sized director duo successfully adapt a gritty, semi-autobiographical story of addiction?

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: After their massive success with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, directors Anthony and Joe Russo turned to Nico Walker’s semi-autobiographical novel, Cherry. Starring Tom Holland as a veteran spiraling into bank robbery to fund a heroin addiction, the film aimed for raw realism but faced a polarized reception from critics.

The production of Cherry was marked by high stakes and logistical hurdles. The Russo brothers’ company, AGBO, secured the rights to Walker’s 2018 novel in August 2018 for $1 million, outbidding major studios like Warner Bros. and Sony. The film serves as the directors' first project following the massive scale of Avengers: Endgame. Filming was initially intended to take place in Ohio, but a dispute over state tax incentives—which saw proposed figures drop from $100 million to $40 million—briefly forced the production to consider California before eventually returning to Cleveland.

The narrative follows a college student who enlists as an Army medic to escape heartbreak, only to return home with severe PTSD. His subsequent descent into OxyContin and heroin addiction, shared with his wife Emily, drives him to rob banks. The film’s stylistic choices and narrative structure drew sharp criticism. While reviewers like David Rooney noted the film touches on the grim reality of veterans returning to an economically blighted America, many critics felt the directors prioritized style over substance. Owen Gleiberman, writing for Variety, went as far as naming it the worst film of 2021, citing a lack of believability.

Beyond the stylistic critique, the film faced ethical questions. Matt Gallagher, writing for The Intercept, pointed out that both the source material and the adaptation have been criticized for erasing the victims of the actual crimes, such as the bank tellers threatened during the robberies. Despite these controversies and a 37% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film remains a notable departure for its lead, Tom Holland, who sought to branch out from his established persona. Apple TV+ acquired the distribution rights in September 2020 for approximately $40 million, bringing the story of a veteran’s tragic cycle of addiction and imprisonment to a global streaming audience.

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