**The primary driver of trader sentiment for the "By Any Means" Rotten Tomatoes score is the strong pre-release positioning of this September 4, 2026, Paramount historical crime thriller.** Directed by Elegance Bratton (following the critically praised *The Inspection*), the film stars Mark Wahlberg as mafia informant Greg Scarpa and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as an FBI agent, with a supporting cast including Giancarlo Esposito, Nicole Beharie, and David Strathairn. Its premise—an uneasy alliance investigating 1966 Mississippi civil rights murders, drawn from real events—has drawn attention through multiple trailers and true-story featurettes that highlight the volatile partnership and period setting. With no critic reviews yet available and the market resolving on the Tomatometer around September 14, sentiment reflects expectations for solid but not exceptional reception typical of star-driven studio thrillers tackling heavy themes. Key upcoming catalysts include opening-weekend reviews, audience scores, and any early guild or critics' circle signals. Execution of the narrative's moral ambiguity will likely determine whether the score lands in the mid-60s to low-80s range, consistent with similar genre entries.