Kevin James and Christina Ricci's 'Guns Up' Quietly Becomes a Streaming Smash

Kevin James has made 2025 the year of the underdog action hero. He kicked off the fall with the Prime Video hit Playdate opposite Alan Ritchson, and now his earlier 2025 movie, Guns Up, is finding a whole new audience on Paramount+. As documented in Screenshot (550).png, the film pairs James with Wednesday star Christina Ricci and has quietly become one of the most-watched titles on the platform this week.

What Is 'Guns Up' About?

Guns Up centers on Ray, a former cop and seemingly normal family man played by James. He has two kids, portrayed by Leo Easton Kelly and Keana Marie, and a loving wife named Alice, played by Ricci. But underneath that picture-perfect exterior, Ray is also a debt collector for the mob. He took the gig to bankroll Alice's dream of opening a retro-style diner. When his final job takes a disastrous turn, he has only one night to get his family out of the city before every crook in the area descends on them. Keeping his secret safe suddenly becomes a life-or-death battle.

Written and directed by Edward Drake of the Detective Knight franchise, the film runs a tight 92 minutes and wastes no time getting into the action. It shares creative DNA with Bob Odenkirk's Nobody and its sequel, dropping an unconventional everyman into extreme circumstances. The difference here is that James plays the role with a broader comedic energy, making the contrast between suburban dad and mob enforcer feel both funny and dangerous.

A Surprise Streaming Hit

Guns Up didn't make much noise when it first arrived in theaters on July 18, 2025. Still, the people who saw it generally had a good time. The film holds a 61% critics score and a 78% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Now, following its release on Paramount+, it's landing in second place on the U.S. streaming chart this week, behind only Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning. For an action comedy that initially flew under the radar, that is an emphatic second life.

The streaming surge is a reminder that theatrical buzz isn't the only measure of success. Audiences are discovering Guns Up on their own terms, and the response is pushing it up the charts alongside one of the biggest blockbusters of the year.

The Cast Behind the Chaos

James is not carrying this fight alone. Guns Up packs a supporting cast that gives the story plenty of personality:

• Christina Ricci brings warmth and sharp timing as Alice, Ray's wife, adding emotional stakes to the chaos.
• Luis Guzmán, another star from Wednesday, appears as Ignatius, giving the film instant crime-comedy credibility.
• Melissa Leo, an Oscar winner for The Fighter, plays Michael and elevates every scene she is in.
• Joey 'Coco' Diaz, Maximilian Osinski, Timothy V. Murphy, Francis Cronin and Solomon Hughes round out the ensemble.

Guzmán's presence is particularly fun for television fans. Ricci and Guzmán have already proved their chemistry in Netflix's Wednesday, and seeing them share the screen again in a scrappy action comedy adds another layer of enjoyment.

Kevin James Still Knows How to Win Over Audiences

James first became a household name as Doug Heffernan on The King of Queens. He later turned Paul Blart: Mall Cop into an unlikely box office phenomenon and showed surprising physicality in Here Comes the Boom. Those roles helped define his brand: a relatable guy who gets pushed to his limits and finds unexpected strength. Guns Up taps into that same formula, and it works because James never loses his everyman charm even when he is beating up criminals.

Ricci, meanwhile, has had one of the most fascinating career arcs in Hollywood. She broke through as a child star in The Addams Family and went on to deliver iconic work in films like Casper and Sleepy Hollow. Her recent turn as a scene-stealing adult star in Wednesday introduced her to a new generation, and Guns Up lets her flex her comedic instincts in a more grounded role.

What's Next for Kevin James After 'Guns Up'?

James isn't slowing down. He is set to headline a new romantic comedy called Solo Mio, which he also co-wrote with Patrick and John Kinnane. Chuck and Dan Kinnane, the other brothers in the writing family, are directing. The movie is scheduled to hit theaters on February 6, 2026.

In Solo Mio, James plays Matt, a man whose dream of an idyllic Italian wedding collapses when his fiancée leaves him at the altar. Instead of canceling the honeymoon, he decides to embrace self-love and travel through Italy alone. Alyson Hannigan, Kim Coates, Jonathan Roumie, Julee Cerda, Julie Ann Emery and Alessandro Carbonara round out the cast. It's a warm, comedic pivot after the action-heavy energy of Guns Up and Playdate.

For now, viewers are rediscovering Guns Up as it climbs the streaming ranks. With a strong cast, a tight 92-minute story and undeniable crowd-pleasing energy, the film is proving that Kevin James's brand of action comedy has serious staying power. Guns Up is streaming now on Paramount+.

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