In a surprising twist of fate, Death of a Unicorn, an imaginative dark fantasy comedy horror film starring Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd, has soared to success on streaming platforms after a less-than-stellar theatrical release. The movie, which was deemed a box office failure upon its debut last year, has since captured the attention of audiences on HBO Max, leading to a remarkable resurgence in popularity.
As of January 30, 2026, the film has impressively climbed to the #5 spot on HBO Max, as reported by FlixPatrol, a streaming analytics platform. Notably, in several South American nations—including Argentina, Chile, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, and Mexico—it has claimed a top-three position, showcasing its newfound appeal across diverse markets.
Despite its streaming triumph, Death of a Unicorn is currently overshadowed by other major releases. It ranks just below Sinners (#1), directed by Ryan Coogler and featuring Michael B. Jordan, which has made history with a staggering 16 Academy Award nominations. Following it are One Battle After Another (#2), 33 Photos from the Ghetto (#3), and Lucy starring Scarlett Johansson at #4. However, Death of a Unicorn manages to outperform other significant titles like Legion (#6), Blink Twice (#7), Alien: Romulus (#8), Blackhat (#9), and Fighting (#10).
Upon its theatrical release, Death of a Unicorn estimated a gross of $16.4 million worldwide against a production budget of approximately $15 million. This financial outcome reflects the film’s struggle to connect with audiences in cinemas, leading to mixed reviews from critics at the time.
Review aggregator sites reflect a similar sentiment towards the film. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a low critic score of 52%, contrasting with a more favorable audience score of 76%. Metacritic presents a Metascore of 51, accompanied by a user score of 5.6, both indicating a general consensus of “mixed or average” reception.
The narrative centers on Elliot and his daughter Ridley, who embark on a weekend getaway to the lavish estate of Elliot’s billionaire employer nestled in the Canadian Rockies. However, their adventure takes a bizarre turn when they inadvertently strike and kill a unicorn with their vehicle. As the story unfolds, Elliot’s boss emerges with intentions to capitalize on the magical properties of the unicorn’s remains, leading to unexpected challenges.
The film is helmed by writer-director Alex Scharfman, who also served as a co-producer alongside Theresa Steele Page, Lars Knudsen, Lucas Joaquin, Drew Houpt, Tim Headington, and Tyler Campellone. The ensemble cast features a talented lineup, including Will Poulter, David Pasquesi, Anthony Carrigan, Richard E. Grant, Téa Leoni, and Jessica Hynes, alongside Ortega and Rudd.
Given its unexpected success on streaming, Death of a Unicorn serves as a testament to the evolving landscape of film consumption, highlighting how audiences are increasingly turning to platforms like HBO Max for unique cinematic experiences.
Death of a Unicorn is streaming on JioHotstar in India.
https://www.hotstar.com/in/clips/death-of-a-unicorn-trailer/1271449037/watch
