Controversial 2025 Horror Flop Is An Instant Streaming Hit, 3 Months On

by

Horror movies can be unpredictable in theaters, but a film that initially failed in 2025 is now finding an audience on Peacock. This is happening more and more often – movies people missed in cinemas are getting a second chance on streaming services. While Netflix has been doing this for a while, platforms like Peacock, Hulu, and HBO Max are increasingly becoming places to discover films you might not have wanted to see in theaters.

The horror film Him, which was widely considered a failure when released in 2025, has surprisingly become the most-watched title on Peacock during its first weekend on the streaming service, according to data from FlixPatrol.

Him Becomes a Huge Hit on Peacock

When the studio released trailers for Him, they were hoping audiences would be intrigued by its unusual premise. Unfortunately, the trailers were too strange for most viewers, which hurt the movie’s chances of doing well in theaters. Another issue was that the trailers didn’t make it clear Jordan Peele was just a producer, not the director, which confused a lot of people.

It appeared the studio intentionally misled audiences into believing this film was directed by the creator of Get Out, Us, and Nope. Even the title, Him, felt like a deliberate attempt to connect it to that director’s work. When it became clear this wasn’t the case, many people lost interest, feeling Universal had used deceptive marketing. Consequently, the film barely broke even, earning only $27.8 million worldwide on a $27 million budget. Critics and audiences weren’t impressed either, giving it a low 30% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 57% audience score on Popcornmeter.

Critics generally agree the movie is visually impressive and a stylish horror film, but the execution doesn’t quite live up to the strength of its story and interesting concepts. Audience reactions echo this, noting strong symbolism and a compelling narrative that ultimately feels unfulfilled. Despite its flaws, however, there are reasons to consider giving this movie another look.

Is Him Worth Watching on Peacock?

The 2025 horror film, Him, explores the damaging effects of toxic masculinity and how competitive sports, like football, can contribute to it. Directed by Justin Tipping (known for his work on The Chi and Dear White People), the movie centers on Cam Cade, a promising young football player, and his opportunity to train with his idol, quarterback Isaiah White, played by Marlon Wayans. Many believe Wayans delivers one of his strongest performances to date in this role.

Okay, so the trailers for this one really didn’t give you a clear idea of what you were in for. It ends up being a pretty wild ride – basically, athletes getting magically boosted by…demonic forces. Yeah, it’s a bit out there, but honestly, it is a horror movie, and I kind of appreciated the boldness. I recently read an interview with Marlon Wayans in Deadline, and he said he respects critics, but he believes the director, Hiom, was really pushing boundaries and doing something new with this film. It’s definitely a different take on the genre.

Ultimately, the film Him uses horror to explore the dark side of ambition and how far people will go to be considered successful. While it tackles complex themes like football, masculinity, and religion, these heavy subjects sometimes feel overwhelming. Despite being a box office disappointment, the film’s bold ideas and stunning visuals make it worth watching, especially now that it’s available on Peacock. It’s better to take a risk and fall short than not try at all.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/3-years-later-lost-stars-canceled-sci-fi-show-quietly-lands-on-netflix/embed/#

Read More

2025-12-21 00:40