Not that anything is all that surprising on the theatrical front at this point in time, but nevertheless it was somewhat of an unexpected surprise when we learned back in September that Blumhouse and Universal will be bringing David Gordon Green’s Halloween Kills to the Peacock streaming service on October 15, the same day it’s being released in theaters.
Back in 2018, David Gordon Green‘s Halloween was a massive hit for Universal, Blumhouse and Miramax, scaring up $255 million worldwide. The day-and-date release could certainly cut into the sequel’s box office profits next month, but it’s clear that the folks in charge have made peace with the fact that giving audiences the option is the best course of action right now.
But is there more to it? Speaking with Collider this week, Blumhouse’s Jason Blum reveals that bringing Halloween Kills to Peacock was his choice, and Freaky inspired the decision.
“It was my idea to do it. [Peacock] didn’t approach me. I approached them,” Blum reveals. “I, like everyone else, am a big believer in the theatrical experience. I think eventually I think there should be windows. I think Universal’s strategy of the three-week window is a great strategy, but I had a bad distribution experience with Freaky. That movie is a great movie, and it didn’t get seen because the distribution of it got all twisted up. My fault.”
He continues, “I didn’t want to go through that experience again. I didn’t want to have a movie that I’m really proud of that I think is great and have there be an excuse why people didn’t see it. So I’m the one who pitched Universal. And then I pitched Jamie and David, and it was my idea. I stand behind it. I’m glad that we’re doing it.”
While it was a big hit with critics, Christopher Landon’s Freaky made just $15 million at the worldwide box office last year, a low number that can no doubt be attributed to the ongoing pandemic. Freaky was released exclusively in theaters in pre-vaccine November 2020, at a time when audience confidence with returning to normal was even lower than it is now.
It would seem Blum has learned the error of his ways with that release, now confident that the next big Blumhouse horror movie should be released in theaters and at home on the very same day. Again, the decision will likely cut into box office profits for Halloween Kills, but the return of Michael Myers will, on the flip side, bring a flood of new subscribers to Peacock.
Just don’t expect the same strategy for Halloween Ends next year.
“I don’t want it do it for the third movie. I want to go back to traditional windows, but COVID is incredibly unpredictable, and I didn’t want to risk it again,” Blum notes. “I felt like I did that with Freaky, and it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. So I don’t want to repeat that experience.”
Here’s the official synopsis for Halloween Kills…
“The Halloween night when Michael Myers returned isn’t over yet.
“Minutes after Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), her daughter Karen (Judy Greer) and granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) left masked monster Michael Myers caged and burning in Laurie’s basement, Laurie is rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, believing she finally killed her lifelong tormentor.
“But when Michael manages to free himself from Laurie’s trap, his ritual bloodbath resumes. As Laurie fights her pain and prepares to defend herself against him, she inspires all of Haddonfield to rise up against their unstoppable monster. The Strode women join a group of other survivors of Michael’s first rampage who decide to take matters into their own hands, forming a vigilante mob that sets out to hunt Michael down, once and for all. Evil dies tonight.”
The cast includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak and Robert Longstreet, with original Halloween actor Charles Cyphers returning as Sheriff Leigh Brackett.
Anthony Michael Hall also stars in the new film as Tommy Doyle, with the returning Kyle Richards as Lindsey Wallace and Nancy Stephens as Nurse Marion Chambers.