Universal Pictures
Despite high expectations, Whannell’s “Wolf Man,” a joint venture of Blumhouse and Universal, failed to live up to the hype. The film, which was anticipated to be a blockbuster hit, fell significantly short of its projected performance. Instead of topping the box office charts, it found itself in a disappointing third place during its release in 2025.
The film’s opening was a letdown, earning merely $10.5 million in the domestic market, a figure that was below even the lowest projections. The international market did not provide much assistance either, with a soft opening that garnered a mere $4.8 million. Despite Blumhouse’s reputation for producing budget films, “Wolf Man” was an exception with a hefty $25 million price tag before marketing costs. The movie now faces an uphill battle to break even.
As the film was gearing up for its release, an opening in the $20 million range was expected. This could have marked a clear victory. So, where did things go awry? Why did Whannell’s film fail to meet expectations, and is there a possibility to pull it back from the brink? We’ll delve into the broader scenario, examining the five major reasons contributing to the film’s letdown. Let’s begin.
1. Poor Reviews for Wolf Man
Universal Pictures
The reviews for “Wolf Man” were, to put it mildly, unimpressive. The film currently holds a 52% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, coupled with a mediocre 58% audience score. To add insult to injury, it received a dismal C- CinemaScore, one of the lowest for any horror film since 2020. These outcomes do not bode well for the film’s future prospects. Jeremy Mathai of /Film dubbed “Wolf Man” as a “half-effective fright fest” in his review, scoring it 6 out of 10. In essence, positive feedback was scarce.
The film reinvents the werewolf mythos, focusing on Blake (Christopher Abbott), who inherits his remote childhood home in Oregon after his father’s disappearance. Blake persuades his wife Charlotte (Julia Garner) to take a break from city life to visit their old house with their daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth). Upon their arrival, they are attacked by a mysterious animal, forcing them to barricade themselves inside with the creature lurking outside. As the night progresses, Blake’s behavior starts to change.
Whannell had previously successfully revamped another monster classic, “The Invisible Man,” in 2020, which set high expectations for this film. Whether justified or not, these expectations seem to have backfired on his latest directorial attempt.
2. Unimpressive Creature Design
Universal Pictures
The design of the creature in “Wolf Man” was more of a setback than an advantage for the film. Universal attempted to cleverly conceal the final design of the werewolf in their marketing campaign. However, a notorious blunder occurred when a person dressed as the creature at Halloween Horror Nights, resulting in a viral incident that negatively impacted the movie’s reputation.
While the costume was not entirely representative of the creature in the film, Whannell’s unique take on the design was bound to be divisive. If the Halloween Horror Nights incident hadn’t occurred, the reception might have been different. However, the incident led many to believe they were being misled.
3. Variety of Other Movie Options
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One of the biggest surprises of the weekend was Sony’s “One of Them Days,” which topped the box office charts with an estimated earning of $11.6 million. This critically acclaimed comedy emerged unexpectedly to virtually tie with Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” ($11.5 million) for the top spot. While neither of these films are in the horror genre, they demonstrate that audiences were not short of appealing alternatives if they were determined to catch a movie. Why would one opt for a film with poor word of mouth when there are so many other options?
For those who were keen on watching a horror film, Robert Eggers’ “Nosferatu” was still drawing crowds. This might have been a more appealing option for viewers who had been hesitant to watch it in the previous weeks. If “Wolf Man” had stronger word of mouth, we might be having a different discussion. However, without sufficient positive buzz, it’s challenging to build momentum.
4. NFL Playoffs Held More Appeal
Universal Pictures
January releases are typically not indicative of Hollywood studios bringing their A-game to the table. Traditionally, January is viewed as a “dump month” for studios. Although this perception has been challenged by films like “Bad Boys for Life,” it still holds some truth. One reason for this is the airing of the NFL playoffs during this time, which can provide stiff competition. Over the past weekend, we saw high-profile matchups between the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs, the Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions on Saturday, and the Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, and Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
These games determined the four teams that will compete for a chance to play in the Super Bowl. Consequently, many potential moviegoers were not available. If “Wolf Man” had a strong buzz, some of these people might have made time for a movie. Who knows? If Ryan Gosling had been the lead, as initially planned, the scenario could have been different. As it stands, for a significant portion of the U.S., football was the clear winner.
5. Blumhouse’s Recent Cold Streak
