A24 has garnered a reputation for producing critically acclaimed films that successfully captivate audiences. Despite this, the recent release of Death of a Unicorn highlights a notable exception in the distributor’s portfolio. While A24 has evolved tremendously since its debut with the 2013 flop, A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III, many still view A24 as a hallmark of quality cinema, due in part to their standout titles like The Witch, Moonlight, Hereditary, and Uncut Gems.
With such a strong lineup, it’s surprising that Death of a Unicorn struggled to receive the expected accolades. This film stands as A24’s most recent foray into the challenging horror-comedy genre, yet its mixed reception—boasting a mere 53% on Rotten Tomatoes—and its underwhelming box office bringing in $10 million against a $15 million budget, indicate a more significant pattern of struggle within this genre.
Death of a Unicorn: A24’s Latest Struggle in Horror Comedy
A24’s Attempts at Blending Horror and Comedy
Death of a Unicorn marks yet another entry in A24’s series of horror comedy disappointments. Despite sharing dark comedic undertones, the film’s critical reception has further emphasized a troubling trend in A24’s attempts to navigate this genre. Alongside the detrimental performance in ticket sales, past films such as 2025’s Opus, 2024’s Y2K, and 2023’s Beau Is Afraid all highlighted similar challenges, with A24’s comedies often earning lackluster critical reviews and diminished box office returns.
Illuminating the Trends in A24’s Horror Comedy Frustrations
Financial Woes of Recent Productions
The ongoing struggles faced by A24 in the horror comedy sector extend beyond just Death of a Unicorn. Despite impressive casts and significant production budgets, many past projects like Y2K (earnings of only $4 million) and Opus (only $2 million), have culminated in financial losses, heightening concerns among industry observers. Unlike the more traditional horror titles from A24 that have met with significant success—such as X, Midsommar, and Talk to Me—the horror comedy niche remains fraught with challenges.
The Challenges Facing A24’s Horror Comedies
A Flawed Approach to Tone and Storytelling
Critics have pinpointed the prevalent inconsistency in tone as a central issue plaguing A24’s horror comedy portfolio. Titles such as Y2K, Opus, Death of a Unicorn, Slice, and False Positive often vacillate between overt humor and abrupt shifts to darker themes, failing to establish a cohesive narrative. This disparity detracts from the intended comedic effect and undermines the horror elements.
In the context of Death of a Unicorn, the film’s treatment of its affluent antagonists lacks the gravitas seen in series like The White Lotus or Succession, ultimately blunting the horror impact while muddling its comedic tone through unexpectedly grim moments.
While this criticism does not universally apply—as seen with A24’s bolder horror comedies like Beau Is Afraid—the inconsistency in tone remains a common thread among many of the studio’s underperforming ventures in this niche. Therefore, Death of a Unicorn continues to symbolize the ongoing challenges A24 faces within the horror comedy landscape.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes