Here’s a bold statement: Westerns may not be the hottest genre in 2025, but one criminally overlooked gem is about to change your mind. Russell Crowe and Nicholas Hoult’s True History of the Kelly Gang is a must-watch on Hulu—and it’s unlike any Western you’ve ever seen. But here’s where it gets controversial: this isn’t your grandfather’s cowboy flick. Based on Peter Carey’s 2000 novel, the film takes a wildly fictionalized approach to the life of Australian outlaw Ned Kelly, blending gritty realism with punk-rock energy. And this is the part most people miss: it’s not about historical accuracy—it’s about raw, unapologetic storytelling that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go.
Let’s back up for a second. Westerns have been on life support since the 1970s, but thanks to Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone empire, the genre is staging a comeback. Audiences are hungry for dusty trails and moral gray areas, and Netflix is already prepping its own contender, The Abandons. But while we wait to see if it can match Yellowstone’s success, True History of the Kelly Gang is sitting right there on Hulu, waiting to be discovered. Directed by Justin Kurzel and scripted by Shaun Grant, the film follows Ned Kelly (played by George MacKay) from his tumultuous childhood—where he makes a lifelong enemy in Charlie Hunnam’s Sergeant O’Neil—to his adult life, clashing with Nicholas Hoult’s Constable Fitzpatrick. Russell Crowe steals scenes as Harry Power, the bushranger who mentors young Ned and sets him on his outlaw path.
Here’s the kicker: this film isn’t historically accurate, but it’s a damn good time. Premiering at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, it hit theaters just as the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down, leaving it unfairly overlooked. But critics raved about its bold style, with SlashFilm calling it a “punk-rock outlaw tale covered in grime” and Vox praising Kurzel’s use of stylized imagery and anachronistic metal tracks. Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com summed it up perfectly: “This is myth-making, splattered in blood, scored with an electric guitar.” It’s a Western that feels both familiar and utterly fresh, striking the perfect balance between “scary and crazy,” as the Los Angeles Times put it.
So, here’s the question: does historical accuracy matter if the story is this entertaining? If you’re willing to trade factual precision for a wild, immersive ride with top-tier talent, True History of the Kelly Gang is your next binge-watch. But don’t just take our word for it—stream it on Hulu and decide for yourself. Is this the future of Westerns, or just a one-off masterpiece? Let us know in the comments—we’re eager to hear your take.
