Abheet Gupta 
David Mackenzie believes FUZE is the kind of thriller that thrives in a theatrical environment and wishes the film had enjoyed a longer life on the big screen. The director behind Hell or High Water, Outlaw King, Starred Up, and Relay recently spoke with HIGH ON CINEMA about his explosive new thriller FUZE starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Theo James. During the conversation, Mackenzie reflected on the challenges modern mid-budget thrillers face in theaters and how streaming culture has transformed audience viewing habits.
David Mackenzie Wishes FUZE Had a Bigger Theatrical Run
While discussing the film’s unpredictable structure and immersive tension, I mentioned how FUZE feels specifically designed for theatrical viewing the kind of movie audiences might later discover on streaming and immediately think, “I wish I had seen this in theaters.”
Mackenzie agreed.
“Yeah, I wish it had a bigger life in theater,” the filmmaker said.
According to Mackenzie, FUZE faced significant competition during its theatrical run, including high-profile releases like Michael and Project Hail Mary. “Honestly, we had some hard competition,” he admitted. Despite that, the director still hopes the film eventually finds its way back onto big screens in some form.
“I do hope it will somehow find a way back into theaters in some way, even if it’s just for the occasional screening,” Mackenzie said. “Because I do think it is an experience that is kind of strong in that environment.”
David Mackenzie Says Outlaw King Was Made for Theaters
The conversation naturally shifted toward Outlaw King, Mackenzie’s large-scale historical epic starring Chris Pine and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, which released through Netflix in 2018 despite its cinematic scale and battle-driven spectacle. As a fan of period films, I mentioned during the interview that Outlaw King felt like the kind of movie that deserved a much wider theatrical rollout.
Mackenzie revealed that the film was originally created with cinemas in mind.
“We made it for that,” he explained. “And then unfortunately, Netflix — their business model is they’re definitely trying to get to streaming as quickly as possible.”
The filmmaker recalled how Outlaw King only received an extremely limited theatrical window before quickly moving onto streaming. “We had sort of a week-and-a-half run in ten theaters or whatever,” he said. “It was kind of crazy.”
Mackenzie Hopes Audiences Recreate the Theater Experience at Home
At the same time, Mackenzie acknowledged how audiences today are increasingly building high-end home viewing setups as streaming continues dominating the industry.
“I hope that people at home have kind of developed their sound systems and got the biggest screen possible or projectors at home and are kind of replicating the theater experience in some way,” the director said.
The discussion highlights an increasingly common issue in modern cinema. Many adult-oriented thrillers and mid-budget films, despite strong reviews and audience reception, often struggle to survive theatrically against major blockbuster competition before eventually finding appreciation later through digital and streaming platforms.
And with its relentless pacing, immersive sound design, and escalating tension, FUZE certainly feels like one of those films best experienced in a packed theater. You can watch our full exclusive interview with David Mackenzie above.
FUZE releases on digital platforms May 26 and arrives on Blu-ray and DVD July 7.
If you have any questions regarding FUZE, feel free to ask in the comments below. For more updates, stay tuned and stay High on Cinema!
