Blumhouse Productions finds itself grappling with a troubling pattern of negative reviews in 2025. The company, which launched its brand with the groundbreaking 2009 found footage film Paranormal Activity, quickly became renowned for producing low-budget horror and thriller films that delivered impressive box office returns. Notable franchises such as The Purge, Insidious, and Sinister have cemented Blumhouse’s status in the industry. The studio also garnered critical acclaim with films like Jordan Peele’s Get Out, which achieved a remarkable Certfified Fresh rating of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
However, the studio’s struggles persisted throughout 2024 despite having previous hits like M3GAN, Five Nights at Freddy’s, and Insidious: The Red Door. While the majority of its releases managed to turn a profit, there were exceptions—AfrAId, with its $13 million gross against a $12 million budget, flopped significantly. Out of five movies released in 2024, only Speak No Evil garnered a Fresh score (83%) on Rotten Tomatoes, while three films—including Imaginary (24%), Night Swim (19%), and AfrAId (23%)—suffered dismal scores below 25%.
Latest Release: The Woman in the Yard
Initiating a Grim Streak for 2025
The latest entry, The Woman in the Yard, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, has unfortunately failed to impress critics. This thriller stars Danielle Deadwyler as Ramona, a widowed mother recovering from an injury at her isolated farmhouse. Her world is turned upside down when a mysterious woman in black appears in her yard, quietly proclaiming that “today’s the day,”leading her family into turmoil and fear. The film also features performances by Okwui Okpokwasili, Russell Hornsby, Peyton Jackson, and Estella Kahiha.
Jaume Collet-Serra has previously made a name for himself with action films featuring Liam Neeson, such as Non-Stop and The Commuter.
As it stands, Rotten Tomatoes currently aggregates reviews for The Woman in the Yard, giving it a score of 44% with an average rating of 5 out of 10. This marks the second Rotten Tomatoes splat for Blumhouse in 2025, following the prior film, Wolf Man, which scored 50% with an average of 5.2.
What This Means for Blumhouse
The Year Still Holds Promise
Despite these setbacks, Blumhouse still has several opportunities to recover with upcoming projects. Anticipated releases like M3GAN 2.0, which follows a predecessor that garnered a commendable 93%, and The Black Phone 2, associated with an 81% rating, hold the potential to regain critical favor. Additionally, the new thriller Drop, directed by Christopher Landon, who has a successful track record with hits like Freaky and the Happy Death Day films, could provide the turnaround Blumhouse needs.
For up-to-the-minute insights, check out the latest information on Rotten Tomatoes.