Jordan Peele, renowned for his innovative contributions to modern horror cinema, has faced an unexpected setback with his newest project. The film Him, a psychological thriller centered on football obsession, currently holds the lowest critics’ rating of Peele’s career on Rotten Tomatoes, marking a significant departure in the filmmaker’s track record.
Him Registers the Lowest Rotten Tomatoes Score of Peele’s Career
Since rising to fame nearly ten years ago with his directorial debut Get Out, which won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and was celebrated as the greatest horror film of the 21st century by a New York Times poll, Jordan Peele has established a reputation for quality and fresh storytelling. He further solidified his status through projects like Us, Nope, and the 2021 reboot of Candyman. However, as of this update, Him has a 34% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 47 reviews, making it Peele’s lowest-rated involvement to date.
This football-themed psychological thriller is only the second film connected to Peele to receive a rotten ranking on the platform, the first being the 2012 comedy Wanderlust, in which Peele played a supporting role. Notably, Him stands out as the only feature on which Peele has served as director or producer that scored below 72%, demonstrating a sharp contrast from his otherwise praised body of work.
Challenges Facing Him in a Competitive Horror Market
In 2025, horror films have enjoyed remarkable box office success, with titles such as Sinners, Final Destination Bloodlines, Weapons, and The Conjuring: Last Rites all outperforming expectations. Many of these movies benefited greatly from positive word of mouth and broad appeal beyond just horror enthusiasts. Unfortunately, Him is unlikely to experience a similar surge upon its theatrical release this weekend.
While critics have praised Marlon Wayans’ portrayal of a veteran quarterback, the consensus points to a disorganized script that fails to fully develop its intriguing core concepts. The premise of exploring obsession and idolization through the lens of a young football star suggested potential depth, but reviewers argue the film does not rise to the level of complexity seen in other Jordan Peele-produced or directed works. Given the stiff competition and crowded release schedule of horror and thriller films this year, strong word of mouth appears unlikely to boost Him‘s commercial prospects.
The sheer volume of horror movies in recent weeks has made it difficult for many titles to distinguish themselves, even those with well-known source material like Stephen King adaptations. If Him had generated favorable responses from critics, Peele’s reputation alone might have ensured a larger audience turnout; instead, the tepid reception threatens to overshadow the film’s visibility among viewers.
Fortunately, the production budget for Him was modest at approximately $27 million, reducing pressure for a major financial triumph. A solid opening weekend could still render the film profitable, though it seems unlikely to become a significant crossover success, especially with several larger releases planned for the fall season.
Monkeypaw Productions Faces a Difficult Year Amid Setbacks
Despite the strong performance of the horror genre overall, Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions has encountered notable obstacles in 2025. The company lost the bidding war for the Weapons script, a project that has since broken records for Warner Bros. Additionally, Peele’s forthcoming fourth directorial effort was delayed and removed from Universal’s schedule to allow for further development time.
Him represented a chance for Peele and Monkeypaw to recover momentum this year but has instead become a rare misstep in an otherwise impressive career. With industry anticipation around his future projects still high, it remains to be seen when Peele’s next film will emerge and if it will restore his standing among horror fans and general audiences alike.
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Jordan Peele’s latest release underscores the unpredictable nature of the film industry, even for well-established artists. While Him struggles to make an impact critically and commercially, Peele’s influence remains significant, and his previous successes have set a high bar for future endeavors. The performance of this film highlights the challenges in balancing creativity and audience expectations, particularly within the highly competitive horror and thriller market of 2025.
