Sci-Fi Thriller Favorite ‘Happy Death Day’ Slashes Onto New Streaming Home

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As a horror fan, it’s genuinely exciting when a new movie really connects and launches a whole franchise. We’re so used to big series now, but think about classics like Scream, Evil Dead, and Alien – those all started way back in the ’70s! Recently, we’ve seen some like Terrifier and Smile manage to build on their success, but honestly, those kinds of breakouts are pretty rare these days.

The 2017 film Happy Death Day unexpectedly became a major success, blending sci-fi, horror, dark comedy, and mystery. Despite competition from popular movies like It and Get Out that year, this low-budget film earned an impressive $125 million with only a $4 million budget, launching a surprisingly underrated franchise. Now, fans can relive the thrills when it returns to HBO Max on March 1st.

‘Happy Death Day’ Made What’s Old Feel New Again

Released on October 13, 2017, the movie Happy Death Day features Jessica Rothe as Tree Gelbman, a college student stuck in a terrifying time loop. She keeps reliving the day she was murdered and must figure out who killed her to break the cycle.

I absolutely loved Happy Death Day! It took the fun idea of Groundhog Day – you know, reliving the same day over and over – and flipped it into a really clever horror movie. Honestly, the concept of time loops has been done a lot, but this felt totally new. At the start, the main character, Tree, isn’t exactly someone you’d like – she’s kind of mean, actually. But being stuck in a time loop forces her to really look at herself and change, which makes you really root for her. Jessica Rothe is amazing in the role, and she makes you fall in love with Tree, even with all her flaws!

One of the most impressive things about Happy Death Day is that, despite being rated PG-13, the filmmakers found incredibly creative – rather than gory – ways to show Tree dying repeatedly. She meets her end through stabbings, being burned, hit by a bus, beaten with a bat, and multiple falls, but each death feels more like something out of a classic Warner Bros. cartoon than a typical slasher film. We especially love the montage sequence showcasing these deaths.

The Carnage Continued in ‘Happy Death Day 2U’

Given how successful the first Happy Death Day movie was, it’s no surprise a sequel happened. In 2019, director Landon returned with Happy Death Day 2U. The original film was primarily a horror-slasher with science fiction aspects, but the sequel flipped that, becoming a sci-fi thriller with horror elements. It expanded the story by introducing the idea of a multiverse and the “Sisyphus” reactor – the device that originally caused the time loop.

Although it cost $9 million to make, Happy Death Day 2U earned $64 million worldwide. Despite this, the sequel was enjoyable, placing Tree in a challenging situation: she had to decide whether to remain in an ideal reality or go back to her original timeline. This created higher stakes than the first movie.

Critics generally liked both films on Rotten Tomatoes, giving them scores of 71% and 73%, but many believe they deserved higher praise. Both movies brought something new and exciting to their genres, and they were simply enjoyable to watch. One standout is the character Tree, who is a truly memorable addition, and the storyline surrounding The Babyface Killer is cleverly developed, building suspense instead of offering a quick, simple resolution.

It’s been quiet for a while, but good news for fans of Happy Death Day – a third movie is officially happening! Both star Jessica Rothe and director Christopher Landon confirmed in 2025 that the project is now in development. While details are still unknown, having them both back gives us a lot to look forward to.




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2026-02-26 02:03