Summary
Blumhousehas built a reputation for delivering high-quality and innovative movies in the horror genre, which has led to enormous success for the company over the years. However, one 2024 release struggled at the box office and wasn’t able to provide the level of success that Blumhouse has become accustomed to, only for it to find new life onNetflix.
Released on July 25, 2025,Afraidwas written and directed by Chris Weitz and focused on a family who take part in a trial for a smart home being run by artificial intelligence.It taps into modern fears of technologyand how it might be able to control people, which is what happens throughout this film as the system takes control of their homes and lives.The film features a talented cast, including John Cho, Katherine Waterston, Havana Rose Liu, and Keith Carradine, but it struggled to make much of an impact, both critically and commercially.
Blumhouse’sAfraidhas found success on Netflix though and has managed to rank at number nine on Netflix’s movie platform, sitting ahead ofthe popular animationMinions. Seeing the movie rank that highly is a significant moment for Blumhouse as it proves that lots of people are watching it, which will only help to grow the film’s reputation due to the consumers' word of mouth.Afraidis currently the only horror film to make the top 10, with other films such asThe Christmas Chronicles, Our Little Secret, The Merry Gentlemen, and Illumination’sSingranking highly.
Afraidhad struggled at the box office and marked Blumhouse’s lowest-ever opening weekend by grossing just $12.9 million against its $12 million production budget, raising cause for concern about whether or not the movie would go on to create a positive impact for Blumhouse. This came after a string of difficult movies for the indie studio,such asExorcist: Believer, Halloween Ends,andNight Swim, which have proven to be a struggle for Blumhouse in terms of the critical and commercial response.
Last week wasAfraid’sfirst on the streaming platform. Therefore, there will be a level of recency bias as audiences often gravitate towards whatever new content Netflix is pushing, which is often something people haven’t seen before.Afraidoffering a horror option at a time when Holiday content is becoming king on streaming platforms will also have been beneficial for those who want something a little different and proves it was able to draw in viewers despitenot being one of Blumhouse’s biggest movies.
The fact thatAfraidhas found success on Netflix is a positive sign for Blumhouse, as the company is aware that audiences are willing to take more of a risk with their viewing habits when in the comfort of their own home. It showcases that even movies that might not thrive in the cinema are able to find success still and help recoup any potential losses while also continuing to developthe reputation of Blumhousein the eyes of those who watch their movies, whether on the big screen or at their own leisure via Netflix. However, there’s no doubt that Blumhouse would still prefer the movie to thrive at the box office upon its initial release and then find joy on streaming platforms afterward.
