Apparently, Netflix’s hit seriesWednesdayis not the onlyJenna Ortega-led project that is currently dominating the streaming charts. 2025’sDeath of a Unicorn, starring Ortega and Paul Rudd, has been occupying HBO Max’s “Top 10 Movies Today” list for two weeks straight. Right now, the horror comedy sits at the number three spot, sharing the list with popular titles such asFinal Destination: Bloodlines,SinnersandAlien Covenant. Other movie titles, fromOpustoEddington, havecome and gone from the streaming charts on HBO Max. And yet, the horror flick — also starring Will Poulter, Téa Leoni and Richard E. Grant — has managed to remain a staple in the top movie ranking.
So, what isDeath of a Unicornabout? The A24 film, which premiered in theaters on June 12, 2025, follows a father (Rudd) and his daughter (Ortega) who accidentally hit and kill a magical unicorn with their car while driving to a weekend retreat. However, when his billionaire boss (Grant) discovers that the deceased creature possessed magical healing powers, he and his family try to exploit the unicorn for their personal financial gain. While the 2025 horror comedy has been given a new life on HBO Max, the star-studded film couldn’t save the latest A24 release from being a huge box office flop.
Why Was ‘Death of a Unicorn’ Starring Jenna Ortega & Paul Rudd a Box Office Flop?
Following its release,Death of a Unicornperformed poorly at the box office. While the horror comedy managed to get audiences excited after its debut at South by Southwest (SXSW), it only managed to gross $5 million during its opening weekend with a production budget of $15 million. Overall,Death of a Unicorngrossed $16.4 million worldwide, which is pretty low for an A24 film. From releasing box office smash hits likeEverything Everywhere All at OncetoHereditary,Death of a Unicornis just one of many A24 films that not only underperformed with audiences but barely managed to make back its budget.
Alongside the disappointing box office numbers were the divisive critics' reviews onRotten Tomatoes.Death of a Unicornscored 53% on the Tomatometer, withsome criticsbashing the film for its poor satire and script writing. For example, John Nugent from Empire Magazine wrote, “This is sadly unsuccessful as both an eat-the-rich satire and a schlocky B-movie.” Additionally, Robert W. Butler from Butler’s Cinema Scene said:
“Not even an A-list cast can do much with Death of a Unicorn, a hodgepodge of myth, father-daughter bonding, greedy rich folk and a big dose of gut-splattering violence.”
However,Death of a Unicornmanaged to score 77% on the Popcornmeter. Compared to the 217 critics' reviews and the 1,000+ audience-verified ratings that praise the film for being a “rollercoaster of bloody chaos,” it seems like audiences are loving the underrated A24 film — and we can definitely see why it has been given a second chance on HBO Max.
Death of a Unicornis available to watch now on HBO Max.
Death of a Unicorn
