If you only know Taylor Sheridan from ranch empires and oil-field TV, start here instead. Sicario (2015) is his breakthrough screenplay: a border war thriller directed by Denis Villeneuve, scored by Jóhann Jóhannsson, shot by Roger Deakins, and now back in the August 2026 licensing wave on HBO Max as of August 1.
Where to watch (right now)
| Detail | Spec |
|---|---|
| Film | *Sicario* (2015, R) |
| Writer | **Taylor Sheridan** |
| Director | **Denis Villeneuve** |
| Leads | Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin |
| Platform | [HBO Max](https://www.hbomax.com/movies/sicario/825604ff-c3aa-49d1-a47f-55bb6f1535af) |
| Added | **August 1, 2026** (August catalog refresh) |
Max’s own synopsis still sells the hook clean:
An idealistic FBI agent is enlisted by a government task force to aid in the escalating war against drugs at the border between the U.S. and Mexico.
Why this is still Sheridan’s sharpest script
Yellowstone made Sheridan a brand. Sicario made him dangerous on the page. The film is not interested in a righteous win against cartels. It is interested in what happens when institutions stop functioning as advertised and keep operating anyway.
Blunt’s Kate Macer
