One Of Blumhouse’s Biggest Flops Of The Year Is Actually Getting Popular On Netflix

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Key Takeaways

  • Blumhouse’s “Afraid” struggled at the box office but found success on Netflix, ranking at number nine.
  • Despite low box office numbers, it attracted viewers on Netflix, proving audiences are willing to take risks from home.
  • Success on Netflix highlights the opportunity for movies to thrive beyond theaters and grow Blumhouse’s reputation.

As a long-time fan of Blumhouse productions, I must admit that I was initially disappointed when “Afraid” underperformed at the box office. However, my excitement quickly returned as I watched it soar on Netflix, proving once again that Blumhouse never fails to deliver chilling stories that resonate with audiences.

Over time, Blumhouse Productions has earned a strong reputation for creating top-notch, innovative horror films that have led to great commercial success. But in 2024, one of their releases didn’t perform well at the box office and failed to meet their usual level of achievement. Yet, this movie managed to find a second chance on Netflix and gain popularity there instead.

On August 30, 2024, the movie titled Afraid hit the screens. This film was penned and directed by Chris Weitz and revolves around a family participating in a test for an advanced AI-powered smart home system. It explores contemporary apprehensions about technology, suggesting its potential to manipulate humanity, as seen throughout the movie where the AI takes charge of their homes and lives. The film boasts a skilled ensemble cast, including John Cho, Katherine Waterston, Havana Rose Liu, and Keith Carradine. However, it failed to leave a significant mark, receiving mediocre reviews and box office performance.

Blumhouse’s “Afraid” has achieved success on Netflix, even outranking the well-known animated film “Minions” at number nine in Netflix’s movie section. This high ranking is a notable milestone for Blumhouse as it indicates that many viewers are tuning in, which can boost the film’s popularity through word of mouth among consumers. Currently, “Afraid” is the only horror film in the top 10, with other popular titles such as “The Christmas Chronicles,” “Our Little Secret,” “The Merry Gentlemen,” and Illumination’s “Sing” also performing well.

Concern arose over the financial success of “Afraid” after it earned only $12.9 million during its opening weekend, falling short against its production budget of $12 million. This underperformance has raised questions about the film’s potential to generate positive returns for Blumhouse Productions, following a series of challenging productions like “The Exorcist: Believer”, “Halloween Ends”, and “Night Swim” that have faced both critical and commercial hurdles.

Last week marked the debut of “Afraid” on the streaming platform. Given that freshness often attracts attention on such platforms, as people tend to be drawn towards new content, especially when they haven’t seen it before, there might be a bias in favor of “Afraid.” Additionally, presenting a horror genre option during a season where holiday content typically dominates could have been advantageous for those seeking something unique. The fact that “Afraid” managed to draw viewers even though it wasn’t one of Blumhouse’s major releases suggests its success was noteworthy.

It’s encouraging for Blumhouse that Afraid has been successful on Netflix, indicating that home viewers are open to taking risks with their viewing choices. This suggests that even movies that may struggle in theaters can still find success and help offset potential losses while boosting Blumhouse’s reputation among its audience, whether they watch movies in the cinema or at home via streaming platforms like Netflix. However, it’s clear that Blumhouse would prefer to see the movie perform well at the box office initially before finding success on streaming services later on.

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2024-12-03 00:25