
Afterburn, the post-apocalyptic action thriller led by Dave Bautista, is all set to make its digital debut after a theatrical run that quietly built strong word-of-mouth. Directed by stunt coordinator-turned-filmmaker J. J. Perry, the film blends large-scale action with a dystopian premise rooted in survival, morality, and the value of human choices in a broken world.
Afterburn will begin streaming on Lionsgate Play from January 23, 2026. The platform officially announced the release by sharing the film’s poster on X, calling it a high-octane survival mission set in a ravaged future. The film originally hit theatres on September 19, 2025, and went on to receive largely positive responses from both audiences and critics, particularly for its action choreography and Bautista’s grounded performance.
Based on the Red 5 Comics graphic novel of the same name by Scott Chitwood, Paul Ens, and Wayne Nichols, Afterburn is set in a world devastated by a massive solar flare that wipes out half the planet’s population. Society has collapsed, warlords rule fractured territories, and relics of the old world have become priceless commodities.
Bautista plays Jake, a hardened treasure hunter navigating this chaotic landscape by retrieving lost artifacts from the pre-collapse era. His latest mission appears straightforward: locate the legendary Mona Lisa. However, the hunt takes a dangerous turn when Jake discovers that the so-called artwork is actually an atomic bomb, capable of tipping the fragile balance of power.
As the stakes rise, Jake teams up with Drea, played by Olga Kurylenko, a rebel with her own reasons for challenging the existing order. Together, they find themselves in direct conflict with a ruthless warlord determined to weaponize the discovery. The journey forces Jake to confront a deeper truth: in a shattered world, survival alone is not enough, and some treasures are too dangerous to possess.
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Samuel L. Jackson appears as August Valentine, a key figure in the post-apocalyptic underworld, while Kristofer Hivju essays the role of General Volkov. The supporting cast adds weight to the film’s themes of power, chaos, and redemption.
The screenplay has been written by Matt Johnson and Nimrod Antal, with production handled by Toby Jaffe, Neal H. Moritz, Steve Richards, Kevin Weisberg, Ryan D. Adams, and Clay Pecorin. Afterburn is produced under the banners of Endurance Media Original Film and Dogbone Entertainment.
For viewers who missed it in theatres, Afterburn’s Lionsgate Play release offers a chance to dive into its explosive action and morally charged dystopian world from the comfort of home.
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