HIM Sets Digital Premiere Date: Marlon Wayans's Horror Swing—Misunderstood Gem or Misfire?

Well, that was fast. Marlon Wayans sports-horror movie 'Him' is jumping from theaters to your couch in record time, which tells you a lot about how things are going.

'HIM releases on digital platforms on October 7. Only 18 days after its theatrical release. Has a 31% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Grossed $22M globally on a $27M budget.' — The Hollywood Handle, Oct 3, 2025

Here is the deal: 'Him' opened in theaters on September 19, 2025, and it hits PVOD on October 7. An 18-day window is brisk even by post-2020 standards, and it usually means the studio sees more upside at home than at the box office.

The pedigree set expectations high. It is produced by Jordan Peele and his Monkeypaw Productions, directed by Justin Tipping, and led by Marlon Wayans. The hook is juicy, too: a rising quarterback discovers the horrific, supernatural price of becoming the greatest of all time. On paper, that is a smart, cheeky allegory about the cult of sports greatness and what people are willing to trade for it.

• Theatrical release: September 19, 2025 (USA)
• PVOD/digital: October 7, 2025 (18 days later)
• Rotten Tomatoes: 32% critics, 58% audience (an earlier post pegged critics at 31%)
• Budget: $27 million (via The Numbers)
• Worldwide box office: $22.3 million so far (The Numbers) — roughly $22M as cited in trade posts
• Director: Justin Tipping
• Produced by: Jordan Peele / Monkeypaw Productions
• Cast highlights: Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker

Critics and viewers are split enough that it feels like they watched different cuts. Reviewers have mostly shrugged (32% on the Tomatometer), calling out a muddled plot, storytelling that never quite locks in, and a finale that wanders away from the movie it promised. Audiences are more tolerant at 58%, with a lot of people giving it credit for style and swing even if the script wobbles.

Box office does not care about ambition, and the numbers are what they are: about $22.3M worldwide on a $27M budget. That is before PVOD, sure, but theatrical momentum just was not there.

The inside-baseball takeaway: this looks like a classic case of a bold concept outpacing the execution. The movie clearly wanted to be a big-ideas allegory and a slick horror ride at the same time. The visuals are striking, but the narrative spine does not hold, and the last act leaves a lot of folks scratching their heads. Big swing, but according to most critics and a decent chunk of the audience, not enough contact.

If you were curious but hesitant, you will not have to wait long to judge it at home. 'Him' is still in theaters in the U.S. for now, and it lands on PVOD October 7. Misunderstood gem or fascinating mess? Your call.