Not every flop gets a second life on streaming platforms, but that's exactly what's happening with Death of the Unicorn. This horror comedy starring film and TV star Jenna Ortega and Ant-Man actor Paul Rudd entered HBO Max's top 10 list on June 1, 2026, proving its worth after underwhelming at the box office last summer. The A24 film flopped upon release, grossing just $16 million worldwide against an estimated $15 million budget. So why has this dark fairy tale suddenly become popular with fans now? Perhaps the film's surge in popularity on streaming platforms isn't just due to the enduring popularity of Rudd and Ortega, but also because audiences are simply looking for something unique and original. Either way, it's proof that any film can become a hit over time, thanks to word of mouth and audience feedback.
In Death of the Unicorn, Ridley Kintner (Ortega) and her father, Elliot (Rudd), accidentally injure a unicorn while en route to a weekend visit with Elliot's boss, Odell Leopold (Richard E. Grant), and his family, including his wife, Belinda (Téa Leoni), and adult son, Shepard (Will Poulter). Elliot seemingly kills the unicorn and hides it in his trunk. The animal's body is soon discovered by the Leopolds, just after the Kintners realize its blood has magical healing properties. Leopold decides to experiment on the beast, removing its horn to grind it up. The horn powder turns out to be a cure-all for all human ailments, including cancer. However, the unicorn is still alive—and it's not the only one roaming the countryside.
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Critical reviews of The Death of the Unicorn were mixed.
Elliot and his friends come together in "The Death of the Unicorn" — Murray Close/A24
Critical reaction to "Death of the Unicorn" was, in a word, mixed. Some found the film overly over-the-top, while others declared its surreal mix of blood, guts, fantasy, and comedy irresistible. Perhaps this explains why the film has a 52% on the Tomatometer, demonstrating a deep divide among reviewers. But what did they have to say about it?
On the other hand, some critics argued that the film was bland and the characters weren't realistic enough to evoke emotion. Kevin Maher, writing for The Times, questioned why Ortega's character felt so different from those around her. "Ortega, as Elliot's disillusioned daughter, Ridley seems to have come to the set from another, much more nuanced film about grief and adolescence, and she hasn't yet realized that this film is, in fact, terrible," he said.
Nevertheless, many critics found Death of the Unicorn to be a lively and funny film, with Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com giving it a solid 3/4. "A film reminiscent of '70s and '80s horror films, with brutal, well-crafted kills woven into a fabric of social criticism and hilarious characters," he wrote. Ortega and Paul Rudd also earned widespread praise from critics, who found them a compelling father-daughter duo. Given the many mixed reviews, viewers might want to watch the film on HBO Max to see who prefers it.
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Read the original article on Looper.