Freaky Releases On VOD Less Than A Month After Theatrical Debut

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Freaky will hit VOD less than a month after its theatrical debut. The film, from Blumhouse and Universal Pictures, is a slasher twist on Freaky Friday. Starring Kathryn Newton (Blockers), the film follows Newton's character after switching bodies with a male serial killer, played by Vince Vaughn. Directed by Christopher Landon, the film blends comedy and horror to significant effect, according to critics.

The film was a critical and commercial success. The film has grossed $9.2 million on a $6 million budget, on track with other movies that have been released during the pandemic. Freaky was lauded for its body-swapping twist on the slasher genre and its comedic elements, which Landon is no stranger to. His Happy Death Day series has been a massive success for Blumhouse, and there are already talks of a sequel for Freaky.

According to Bloody Disgusting, fans that were unable or unwilling to catch the film in theaters will get their chance to see the movie at home soon. Freaky will hit VOD services on December 4th, 21 days after it initially hit theaters. The film is at the top of the box office for its second week, and word-of-mouth has made buzz for the film only grow. The film will remain in theaters for one more week before it hits streaming.

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The coronavirus pandemic has changed the moviegoing industry, and Freaky's release schedule is emblematic of that. The exclusivity window that theaters have is more flexible than ever now, shortening from its typical 90-day period to nearly a third of that in this case. With more theaters shutting down across the country as case numbers surge, the opportunity to see Freaky in theaters was quickly eroding. Despite its box office success, the film had likely run its course in theaters and would make more from VOD than ticket sales at this point.

The surge of cases and the winter weather is also forcing people indoors, and, as we have already seen, streaming and VOD is more popular than ever. Blumhouse and Universal Pictures' decision to make Freaky available at home is not only a gift for horror fans who can't or won't go to theaters for safety reasons but a smart move, as well. With its tiny budget, typical for horror films, it has already been able to make a profit, and putting it on VOD while buzz for the film is still high will only increase that. At a time when bottom lines are more important than ever because of a disastrous 2020, Freaky's release is a win for the studio and fans.