Justin Tipping’s horror film Him debuted to mixed reactions and disappointing box office results, complicating an already challenging year for producer Jordan Peele. Earlier, Peele narrowly missed out on acquiring the rights to Zach Cregger’s film Weapons, which has since become a major hit in 2025. The loss of Weapons continues to overshadow Peele’s current project.
Mixed Reactions and Low Earnings Define Him’s Launch
Following the missed opportunity on Weapons, Peele focused on Him, a dark thriller penned by newcomers Justin Tipping, Skip Bronkie, and Zack Akers. The story centers on a football prospect facing intense pressure and a critical choice about how far he is willing to push himself. Despite its promising premise, Him has been met mostly with negative reviews. Rotten Tomatoes currently rates the movie at 29%, while Metacritic assigns a low score of 38, marking a stark departure from Peele’s usual prestige horror reputation.
Financially, Him has underperformed since its release last week, earning $6.47 million on its first Friday and roughly $13.5 million over the opening weekend. This turnout barely covers its production budget of $27 million, falling short of the strong commercial results that Monkeypaw Productions, Peele’s company, expected.
Comparing the Fortunes of Weapons and Him
The disappointment surrounding Him is heightened by the success of Weapons, which not only thrived critically but also achieved substantial box office returns. After losing the rights to Weapons in 2023, Peele was under pressure to regain momentum with Him, but the film’s reception has instead highlighted the cost of that loss. Warner Bros. has enjoyed a remarkable year with hits like Sinners, Weapons, and F1, making Him’s struggles more glaring in comparison.
Main Cast of Him
The film stars Tyriq Withers as Benny Mathis and Marlon Wayans as Connor Dane, leading the cast in this intense narrative about ambition and self-discovery.
What’s Next for Jordan Peele and Monkeypaw Productions?
While this setback with Him is significant, Peele and Monkeypaw Productions are expected to recover and continue delivering influential projects. Nonetheless, the frustration around missing out on Weapons lingers, especially given how that film has flourished. Peele may now reflect on whether placing a higher bid for Zach Cregger’s script might have altered his studio’s fortunes this year.
