Play Dirty is a 2025 American heist action thriller co-written and directed by Shane Black. The film is based on the Parker book series by Donald E. Westlake, writing under the pseudonym Richard Stark. It stars Mark Wahlberg in the lead role, with LaKeith Stanfield as Grofield, alongside a star-studded supporting cast. The movie was released on October 1, 2025, by Amazon MGM Studios via Prime Video.
The story follows a group of professional thieves led by Parker as they plan a daring heist to steal a valuable treasure from a shipwreck that De La Paz will be showcasing at the United Nations.
Play Dirty was a disappointing two hours from start to finish. The acting was generally weak, particularly from the female lead. The plot lacked coherence, with endless, unrealistic shootouts where characters are unharmed despite blatant exposure of their identities. Poor camera work, editing, and unconvincing costumes further detracted from the experience, making the film feel like a missed opportunity.
I’m honestly baffled why this movie was released given the caliber of the cast, especially with Mark Wahlberg in the lead. The film fails to make sense, these criminals carry out major heists openly, with no law enforcement presence, except for one police scene that ends up being a joke. It’s a huge disappointment and a complete waste of the talent involved.
