Tom Felton’s most recent movie is a streaming hit. After his Harry Potter days as Draco Malfoy, the actor starred in different films, and the slasher They Will Kill You is now getting its revenge on streaming.
They Will Kill You was released by Warner Bros. on Mar. 27, and it didn’t stick the landing. It had some decent success on digital platforms, but it has more potential to become a true cult classic on streaming. One day after its June 12 release on HBO Max, They Will Kill You has obliterated the competition, per FlixPatrol.
They Will Kill You replaced the music documentary Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That’s the Weight of the World), which examined the cultural impact of disco band Earth, Wind & Fire. The slasher jumped straight to No. 1 in the U.S., but it’s also a global hit, topping the charts in 51 countries across the world. The success on HBO Max comes not long after Felton’s Downton Abbey-like parody Fackham Hall, which was also released on the same streaming platform.
What Happens in They Will Kill You?
The horror film is perfect for Ready or Not fans, as it features a similar premise. While no wedding or creepy in-law family is involved, They Will Kill You follows Asia Reaves, who must survive the night at the Virgil, a demonic cult’s mysterious and twisted death-trap of a lair, before becoming their next offering in a uniquely brazen, big screen battle of epic kills and wickedly dark humor.
The slasher film has a secret connection to It: Welcome to Derry creators, as Andy and Barbara Muschietti produced the film, alongside Dan Kagan. Kirill Sokolov directed, with a script co-written with Alex Litvak.
Deadpool 2‘s Zazie Beetz leads the film as Asia Reaves, and she stars alongside Felton, Myha’la, Paterson Joseph, Heather Graham, James Remar, and Patricia Arquette.
They Will Kill You Flopped in Theaters Despite Encouraging Reviews
The year so far has been great for horror, as Obsession and Backrooms became one of the highest grossing films of all time. Both received critical acclaim and praise for their stories and performances. They Will Kill You hit theaters shortly after Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, as well as the height of Project Hail Mary‘s theatrical success.
The slasher didn’t have a huge budget, as it was produced for $20 million, but it didn’t even reach that, ending its run with $19 million. This is despite more encouraging reviews. It later gained some attention on digital platforms.
They Will Kill You features a 65% approval score from critics out of 170, with FilmWeek’s Christy Lemire hyping it up as “John Wick by way of Looney Tunes.” The bloody horror also received a 77% approval from the audience, with one summing it up as “Kill Bill meets the occult vibes.” More reviews likened it to Kill Bill, with one writing, “Never thought I’d see Kill Bill 3. This is pretty damn close,” and another saying it’s “Action-backed Kill Bill-style cinematography great watch.”
They Will Kill You is streaming on HBO Max.