Julia Garner’s Universal Monsters Film Wolf Man Finds a Second Life on Streaming

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Universal Pictures tried to revive its classic monster movies earlier this year with Wolf Man, featuring Julia Garner (known from The Americans) and Christopher Abbott (Poor Things). While the film didn’t do well in theaters initially, there’s hope it might find an audience as Halloween nears.

According to FlixPatrol, the movie Wolf Man has been consistently ranked as one of the top 10 most popular films on Amazon Prime in the U.S. for the last seven days. This is notable because the film received mixed reviews and didn’t generate a lot of buzz. It’s a contrast to the success of other films starring the same actor released this year, such as The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Wolf Man is a fresh start for the classic Wolf Man series, which originally began in 1941, and tells the story of a man trying to find a cure after being bitten by a werewolf.

In the 2025 film, Abbott plays Blake Lovell, a writer from San Francisco who returns to his family’s secluded Oregon home after his father disappears and is believed to be dead. Hoping for a fresh start while his marriage is failing, Blake brings his wife (Garner) and daughter, Ginger (Matilda Firth), with him. However, they’re immediately attacked by a mysterious animal and forced to take shelter inside the house. As the creature stalks them, Blake himself begins to change, becoming a terrifying threat that may be even more dangerous than the one outside.

Universal Pictures released Wolf Man, with Jason Blum and Blumhouse Productions overseeing its creation. The film spent about ten years stuck in development, first revealed in 2014 as part of a planned series of monster movies called the Dark Universe. After The Mummy didn’t perform well, Universal paused those plans. However, the success of The Invisible Man in 2020 offered renewed hope for the project.

The project began development some time ago, but the initial director left. Production finally started in New Zealand in 2024, with Leigh Whannell, known for directing The Invisible Man, taking the helm.

He directed and co-wrote the film, but the reboot didn’t achieve the same popularity as his earlier work with the Universal Monsters franchise.

Wolf Man Flopped With Critics & Audiences During Its Theatrical Release

When Wolf Man premiered in theaters on January 17, 2025, its release timing proved to be a misstep. The film only earned $35 million globally, which was less than its $25 million production cost. It opened with disappointing numbers, reaching third place in its first weekend behind One of Them Days and Mufasa: The Lion King (which was already in its fifth week of release).

The 2010 remake of The Wolf Man wasn’t a hit with viewers or critics. Rotten Tomatoes reports a 48% approval rating from over 275 critics, and audiences weren’t much more impressed, giving it a 55% positive rating from over 1,000 reviews. While the film tried a new, psychological approach to the story, most critics and viewers found it lacked genuine scares and moved too slowly. As one review put it, the film’s restrained approach to horror ultimately held it back.

Wolf Man is now available on Amazon Prime Video.

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2025-10-28 19:10