In a year filled with acclaimed horror hits like Sinners and Weapons, one 2025 release stood out for all the wrong reasons. Him, a film that attempted to merge professional football with supernatural terror, arrives on Netflix this week after a theatrical run that left critics cold and audiences split. Directed by Justin Tipping, the movie now gets a second life on streaming, where it might find the audience that eluded it in cinemas.
A Premise That Fumbled at the Box Office
Him follows promising football player Cam Cade, portrayed by Tyriq Withers, whose career is jeopardized after a violent encounter with a masked assailant leaves him with severe head trauma. His salvation appears in the form of legendary quarterback Isaiah White, played by Marlon Wayans, who offers Cam a week of intensive training with the San Antonio Saviors. What begins as a dream opportunity quickly descends into a nightmare, plunging Cam into a dark world that tests his physical and psychological limits. Despite its intriguing setup, the film struggled to connect, failing to recoup its budget while competing against blockbusters like Demon Slayer: Infinity Train.
The End of a Winning Streak for Monkeypaw
Perhaps the most notable aspect of Him is its association with Oscar-winner Jordan Peele, who served as a producer. Marketing heavily emphasized Peele's involvement, but the film's poor performance marked the end of an impressive commercial streak for his Monkeypaw Productions. Since the groundbreaking success of Get Out in 2017, the banner had delivered a series of critically and commercially successful films that masterfully wove social themes into horror, including Us, Nope, and the Candyman reboot. Him's stumble broke that pattern, making it a curious outlier in the company's portfolio.
Where Peele's productions typically excel in layered storytelling, reviews suggested Him leaned too heavily on its visual style. Cinematographer Kira Kelly creates several disturbing sequences, including striking X-ray visuals that depict the brutal physical toll of football. However, critics widely panned the script by Tipping, Skip Bronkie, and Zack Ackers for its uneven tone and underdeveloped emotional core, particularly in exploring Cam's fraught relationship with his father. This critical disconnect is reflected in its middling 57% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Performances That Rise Above the Material
The film's saving grace lies in the powerful performances of its two leads. Tyriq Withers brings a raw vulnerability to Cam, while Marlon Wayans steals the show as the charismatic yet volatile Isaiah White, effortlessly shifting between mentor and menace. Their dynamic provides the film's most compelling moments. The project's failure hasn't hindered their careers; Withers has since appeared in projects like I Know What You Did Last Summer, while Wayans has remained characteristically philosophical about the film's reception.
In response to the criticism, Wayans hinted at the film's potential for cult status, stating, "Some movies are ahead of the curve. Innovation is not always embraced and art is to be interpreted... I've had a career of making classic movies that weren't critically received and those movies went on to be classics." His comments echo the journey of many forgotten films that find new life on streaming.
Netflix: A Second Chance for Divisive Films
Him's arrival on Netflix represents a classic streaming platform play: giving a misunderstood or overlooked title a second shot at finding its audience. The platform's algorithm and vast subscriber base can sometimes accomplish what traditional marketing cannot, turning a box office underperformer into a streaming conversation piece. It joins a library of content where viewers can seek out hidden gems that improve with time or uncover the flaws in even the biggest hits.
Whether Him will be reappraised as a bold, flawed experiment or remain a footnote in Jordan Peele's producing career is now up to the Netflix audience. Its unique blend of sports drama and body horror may yet find fans who appreciate its ambition, even if its execution proved divisive. For viewers tired of conventional scares, it offers an unconventional alternative, much like niche horror anthologies that redefine genre expectations. Only time will tell if this film completes its redemption arc or remains permanently benched.
