Academy Award winner Halle Berry is typically a reliable box office draw. However, in 2024, her new horror movie Never Let Go struggled against intense genre competition, ultimately fading into box office obscurity. If it had been released this year, given the lack of many new horror films during Halloween weekend, the Lionsgate release might have performed better. Unfortunately, with competition from the Naomi Scott-led <em>Smile 2</em> and the critically acclaimed body horror hit The Substance, Never Let Go truly never stood a chance.
However, a year later, the scarcity of new horror options is allowing Never Let Go to gain traction on streaming platforms, even as spooky season has passed. Currently, Never Let Go has quietly entered the top ten most-streamed movies on Starz in the U.S.. The horror film has secured the tenth position in a list filled with notable titles, from the Nicolas Cage-led Arsenal to the recent Ana de Armas-led John Wick spin-off, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina.
Upon its release, the film received a lukewarm critical reception, managing only middling scores of 56% and 54% from critics and audiences on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. The site’s consensus states, “Director Alexandre Aja’s latest horror offering boasts an anxiety-inducing atmosphere and a committed performance from Halle Berry, although audiences will need to let go of some storytelling expectations to enjoy the ride.” A synopsis of the movie reads:
“In this psychological thriller/horror, as an Evil takes over the world beyond their front doorstep, the only protection for a mother and her twin sons is their house and their family’s protective bond. Needing to stay connected at all times – even tethering themselves with ropes – they cling to one another, urging each other to never let go. But when one of the boys questions if the evil is real, the ties that bind them together are severed, triggering a terrifying fight for survival.”
Just How Bad Was ‘Never Let Go’s Box Office Run?
In the grand scheme of box office flops, Never Let Go wasn’t a total failure, as it managed to recoup its reported $20 million budget. With a $21.7 million global haul, divided between $10.3 million in domestic revenue and $11.4 million from international markets, the film simply couldn’t keep pace with its tough competition, finishing fourth in domestic rankings during its opening weekend and quickly slipping to eighth by its second weekend.
Never Let Go is streaming now on Starz. Be sure to stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.
