Jordan Peele-Produced Horror Flick 'Him' Hits Netflix After Divisive 2025 Release

The sports-horror hybrid film struggled at the box office but could find new life on the streaming platform.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:06pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up photograph of shattered glass and cracked leather textures, shot in dramatic studio lighting to create a gritty, high-fashion aesthetic that evokes the dark, dangerous world of the horror film 'Him'.The visceral, high-contrast visuals of 'Him' aim to capture the film's blend of sports and horror, though its uneven tone left critics divided.San Antonio Today

The horror genre saw an influx of creativity in 2025, with films like Sinners and Weapons dominating the cultural conversation. However, one movie that failed to impress critics and barely recouped its budget during its theatrical run was Him, a sports-horror hybrid directed and co-written by Justin Tipping. Produced by Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw Productions, the film follows football player Cam Cade, who suffers major head trauma after being attacked by a mysterious masked figure and is invited by legendary quarterback Isaiah White to train with him for a week. Despite some visually disturbing moments, the film was criticized for its uneven tone and underdeveloped characters.

Why it matters

Him's critical and commercial failure marked the end of a blockbuster streak for Peele's Monkeypaw Productions, which had found success with films like Get Out, Nope, and Us that blended social commentary with horror thrills. The film's poor performance also highlights the challenges of blending genres and the high expectations placed on Peele's productions.

The details

Directed and co-written by Justin Tipping, Him follows football player Cam Cade (Tyriq Withers), who suffers major head trauma after being attacked by a mysterious masked figure. With his career on the line, Cam is invited by legendary quarterback Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans) to train with him for a week and potentially take his place on the San Antonio Saviors. However, Cam is dragged into a dark, dangerous world that pushes him to his limits. While the film's visuals, including literal X-rays of characters' bodily trauma, were praised, the script was criticized for its uneven tone and failure to fully develop Cam's character.

  • Him was released in theaters in 2025.
  • The film will start streaming on Netflix on April 19, 2026.

The players

Justin Tipping

The director and co-writer of Him, blending the worlds of sports and horror.

Tyriq Withers

The actor who played the lead role of Cam Cade in Him, a football player who suffers head trauma.

Marlon Wayans

The actor who played the role of legendary quarterback Isaiah White in Him, who invites Cam to train with him.

Jordan Peele

The producer of Him through his production company Monkeypaw Productions, known for blending social commentary with horror.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I respect critics. Their job is to critique. I respect their work. It shapes our industry. But an opinion does not always mean it's everyone's opinion. Some movies are ahead of the curve. Innovation is not always embraced and art is to be interpreted and it's subjective. I've had a career of making classic movies that weren't critically recieved and those movies went on to be classics.”

— Marlon Wayans, Actor

What’s next

Now that Him is coming to Netflix, it remains to be seen if the film will find a new audience and potentially be reappraised as a cult classic.

The takeaway

The critical and commercial failure of Him, despite its interesting premise and strong performances, highlights the challenges of blending genres and the high expectations placed on productions associated with acclaimed filmmakers like Jordan Peele. The film's Netflix debut could give it a second chance to find an audience and potentially be reevaluated.