As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but share my excitement about the stealthy success story unfolding on HBO Max – the captivating dark comedy, “Death of a Unicorn.” Initially overlooked upon its release, this intriguing blend of humor, fantasy, and horror has been steadily gaining traction among streaming viewers.
What makes it even more intriguing is that it represents the directorial debut of Alex Scharfman, who also penned the film’s screenplay. This promising newcomer has truly outdone himself with this unique and engaging piece. If you haven’t had a chance to watch it yet, I highly recommend giving it a spin!
The movie features Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega playing a father-daughter duo who unwittingly slay a mythical unicorn. Consequently, they become pursued by the enraged parents of the creature. In addition to the lead roles, the film showcases notable performances from Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, and Richard E. Grant in significant supporting positions.
The movie titled “Death of a Unicorn” debuted at the South by Southwest Festival on March 8, 2025, and was shown in cinemas all over North America by A24 starting from March 28, 2025.
The movie garnered a mix of positive and negative feedback from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, 214 reviewers assessed it positively at a rate of 53%, with the site commenting that “Death of a Unicorn” benefited from the charming father-daughter dynamic between Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, though its overly broad satire could be too exaggerated. Metacritic assigned it an average score of 51 out of 100, while CinemaScore’s audience poll placed it at a “B-” grade.
In this production, Paul Rudd takes on the role of Elliot Kintner, who is Ridley’s father, portrayed by Jenna Ortega. An unfortunate incident occurs where Ridley and Elliot inadvertently kill a mythical creature resembling a unicorn, triggering a humorous yet perilous pursuit. Will Poulter assumes the character of Shepard Leopold, while Anthony Carrigan, Sunita Mani, Stephen Park, Jessica Hynes, Téa Leoni, and Richard E. Grant are also part of the cast.
The film may not have been a blockbuster in cinemas, with earnings of approximately $16.1 million against a production budget of $15 million, but it’s experiencing a resurgence on streaming services, particularly HBO Max. A significant factor behind this revival is the burgeoning fame of Jenna Ortega. She has already garnered recognition for her role in Netflix’s Wednesday, one of the most-streamed series on that platform to date.
The impressive showing of the movie on HBO Max has propelled it up the rankings, outperforming other hit films such as Sinners and Opus, both from A24. With more A24 productions scheduled for release this year, like Highest 2 Lowest and The Smashing Machine, HBO Max viewers have a wealth of engaging content to anticipate.
Retribution has a fierce nature. The film “DEATH OF A UNICORN” by Alex Scharfman, featuring Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, and Richard E. Grant is coming to theaters nationwide on March 28.
— A24 (@A24) February 27, 2025
In my perspective, the show titled “Death of a Unicorn” didn’t garner immediate attention, but with the convenience of streaming platforms and the undeniable chemistry between Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, it has grown to be a preferred choice among viewers seeking something distinctively humorous yet dark.
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2025-08-05 09:45