Sometimes movies will find a bigger life following their theatrical release because audiences may not have taken the time to check it out in theaters or other films take priority. Released on Dec. 6,Nightbitchseemed poised to be a potential awards contender for its star,Amy Adams, but after the surreal horror comedy received mixed reviews from critics, interest in the film seemed to subside, and it came and went quickly from most theaters. After a surprisingly short amount of time,Nightbitchwas added to Hulu, and now its fortunes are changing — the film has become a streaming hit on the platform.
According to Hulu’s latestTop 10,Nightbitchsits at number two, quickly ascending the chart following being released on Dec. 27. It’s fitting that the film is performing well on the platform because it was originally intended to go direct to Hulu, but pivoted to a theatrical release courtesy of Searchlight Pictures as they likely thought the movie had some awards potential. Given the film’s very offbeat premise, it’s a little easy to see why its box office wasn’t so hot, but it does sound like the kind of movie that could spark some curiosity for streaming audiences, who can easily shut it off at any time and switch to something else.
Written anddirected by Marielle Heller,Nightbitchis based on the 2021 novel of the same name by Rachel Yoder and stars Adams as a woman only referred to as Mother. She has put her career on pause to be a stay-at-home mom, but the stress of her domestic life takes a very supernatural turn when odd changes lead her to believe that she’s transforming into a dog. In addition to Adams, the film also stars Scoot McNairy, Arleigh Snowden, Emmett Snowden, Mary Holland, Ella Thomas, Archana Rajan, and Jessica Harper.
Related:Nightbitch Review | Amy Adams Gets Weird but Not Weird Enough
‘Nightbitch’ Received Mixed Reviews Upon Release
Following the film’s premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival,Nightbitchbegan to receive mixed reviewsahead of its theatrical release. As of now, the movie holds a 59% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics responded positively to Adams' performance in the film, particularly the more grounded scenes showcasing the stress of being a stay-at-home mom. Other critics, though, felt the premise became too absurd once the surreal canine elements kicked in, and believed the story likely worked better as a novel rather than a feature film.
How Amy Adams’ ‘Nightbitch’ Compares to the Novel
“Nightbitch” is based on a novel of the same name. But how does the movie compare to the source material?
Its quick release to Hulu was likely prompted by its less-than-stellar box-office performance. The movie grossed a mere $170,737 at the box office and never really opened wide enough to make an impression financially. Given that Searchlight Pictures acquired distribution rights from Annapurna for $25 million, some money was lost on the project, but it could be making strides on Hulu, where it has a better opportunity to thrive. That was the original plan, after all.Nightbitchis now streaming on Hulu; you’re able to watch it through the link below:
