Dark Comedy That Went Under the Radar Starring Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd Is a Streaming Hit on HBO Max
The dark comedy Death of a Unicorn is quietly becoming a streaming hit on HBO Max, despite flying under the radar when it first came out. This dark fantasy comedy horror movie marks the directorial debut of Alex Scharfman, who also wrote the film.
It stars Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega as a father and daughter who accidentally kill a unicorn and then find themselves hunted by the magical creature’s parents. The film also features Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, and Richard E. Grant in important supporting roles.
Death of a Unicorn first premiered at the South by Southwest Festival on March 8, 2025, and was released in theaters across North America by A24 on March 28, 2025.
The film received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, 53% of 214 critics gave positive reviews, with the website saying, “Receiving some sparkle from Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega’s father-daughter rapport, Death of a Unicorn’s broad satire is a bit too on the horn but makes for an entertainingly splattery creature feature.” Metacritic gave it a score of 51 out of 100, meaning the reviews were average or mixed. Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a “B–” grade.
Paul Rudd plays Elliot Kintner, the father of Ridley, played by Jenna Ortega. Ridley and Elliot accidentally kill a unicorn, setting off a darkly funny and dangerous chase. Will Poulter plays Shepard Leopold, and other cast members include Anthony Carrigan, Sunita Mani, Stephen Park, Jessica Hynes, Téa Leoni, and Richard E. Grant.
Though the movie didn’t make huge waves in theaters, earning around $16.1 million on a $15 million budget, it’s finding new life on streaming platforms, especially HBO Max. Jenna Ortega’s rising star power is a big part of this success. She is already well-known for her role in Netflix’s Wednesday, one of the most-streamed series ever on that platform.
The movie’s strong performance on HBO Max has helped it climb the charts, beating out other popular films like Sinners and Opus, another A24 release. With several more A24 movies expected to come out this year, including Highest 2 Lowest and The Smashing Machine, HBO Max subscribers have plenty of exciting content to look forward to.
Payback is a beast. Alex Scharfman's DEATH OF A UNICORN starring Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, and Richard E. Grant. In theaters everywhere March 28. pic.twitter.com/m6uRUW61t4
— A24 (@A24) February 27, 2025
Death of a Unicorn might not have made a huge splash at first, but thanks to streaming and the strong chemistry between Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, it’s becoming a favorite for viewers looking for something different and darkly funny.
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