2022 Horror Movie With 93% Rotten Tomatoes Score Becomes Streaming Hit

Horror continues to be a major audience draw as a genre, and this year has delivered horror successes like Longlegs, Smile 2, and the critically-acclaimed The Substance. The genre continues to be attractive to filmmakers as horror flicks often feature smaller budgets, but this doesn’t deter audiences. Every year, there are a few standout horror hits, and 2022 is certainly no different.

2022 saw the release of the Scream legacy sequel, which revitalized the franchise, and Halloween Ends, which ended that franchise’s reboot trilogy. A number of standout original horror movies were also released, including Barbarian, which shocked audiences with its surprising twists and turns, and Smile, which reaped the benefits of a stellar marketing campaign to become a major box office success. Other notable titles include Jordan Peele’s Nope, Bodies Bodies Bodies, The Menu, and Men, but the year also delivered two installments of what would become a horror trilogy.

Pearl Ascends To Streaming Hit Status

Another X Franchise Installment Also Makes The List

Pearl has become a major success on streaming after earning a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes in 2022. Directed by Ti West, the follow-up to X (2022) serves as a prequel, chronicling Pearl’s (Mia Goth) attempts to achieve stardom while living on her parents’ isolated farm in 1918. The film was a hit with critics and audiences alike, and Pearl’s journey would ultimately conclude in MaXXXine (2024), which marks the end of West’s low-budget horror trilogy.

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Following the release of MaXXXine earlier this year, new data from Reelgood now reveals that Pearl ranks as the tenth most popular movie on streaming for the week of October 24 – 30. The movie, which is streaming on Netflix, also isn’t the only X title to the make the list. MaXXXine (available on Max) actually comes in even higher at fifth place, beating titles like It’s What’s Inside (2024), Late Night With The Devil (2023), Canary Black (2024), and Terrifier (2016). Check out the full top 10 list, which is dominated by horror titles, below:

Our Take On Pearl’s Streaming Success

Ti West’s X Trilogy Was A Breath Of Fresh Air

X was reportedly made on a budget of $1 million, and Variety reports that Pearl was likely made for about the same. The sequel ended up grossing almost $10 million at the box office, and the franchise as a whole is an undeniable success. Though MaXXXine‘s reviews weren’t quite as glowing as the ones for X or Pearl, all three films are a testament to what can be accomplished on modest budgets when shepherded by a talented filmmaker with a unique vision.

Pearl‘s streaming success – and the prevalence of horror on the Reelgood list, in general – is undoubtedly due to Halloween, and it’s proof that the genre continues to be a major audience draw at home, in addition to in theaters. It’s not yet clear what West will be doing next, but his X trilogy certainly makes him a filmmaker to keep an eye on. With Halloween now over, future streaming charts could be less horror-dominant, but Pearl will remain a genre entry worth checking out.

Source: Reelgood

Pearl, a prequel to the film X, follows the story of a young woman named Pearl residing on a secluded farm during the early 20th century. Directed by Ti West, this psychological horror explores Pearl’s descent into madness, delving into her troubled psyche and the haunting circumstances that surround her. Starring Mia Goth, the film provides a chilling backdrop and a character study of ambition and isolation gone awry.

Director

Ti West

Release Date

September 16, 2022

Studio(s)

A24

Distributor(s)

A24

Runtime

102 minutes

Budget

$1 million

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