Werewolves can have a unique routine. Some like to stalk the moors in search of victims, while others aim to draw in large audiences on streaming platforms. Leigh Whannell and Blumhouse’s Wolf Man (2025) clawed into Peacock's top streaming rankings, as the film is reaching the audience it missed in theaters, proving it has (furry) legs.
A second chance to howl
The moderately budgeted Blumhouse lycanthrope film performed modestly at the box office, showing that the curse of the Wolf Man isn’t the dangers of the full moon, but the inability to become a top-tier horror movie franchise. The Wolfman (2010) was an enjoyable, albeit uneven, remake of the original Universal Pictures classic, but the concept wasn’t appealing enough to a wide audience to break even. Plans for future films ended. Blumhouse likely figured a lower-budgeted movie could do better.
While ticket sales underperformed, streaming interest peaked. Based on the data available, it looks like there is a niche audience drawn to the horrors unfolding under rural moonlight. Wolf Man hit the number one streaming position on Peacock. Success wasn’t limited to just Peacock either. The film drew strong viewership numbers on Prime and other platforms as well.
Wolf Man woes
The Wolf Man seemed like the perfect character to reboot in a franchise. Lon Chaney Jr.’s timeless and iconic portrayal of the cursed Lawrence Talbot continues to draw new generations of fans. The alter-ego element echoes superhero tropes, which could draw comic book movie fans. Why does success seem elusive?
Like The Incredible Hulk, the Wolf Man seems to work better in an ensemble. Lawrence Talbot only appeared in one solo film. His other appearances were in “monster rally” multi-creature mash-ups like House of Frankenstein (1945) as a dynamic supporting character. Things could speculatively move in that direction. The Blumhouse version may grow a strong enough following that the character may return in a cameo. At the very least, give us some direct-to-streaming sequels.
Wolf Man is streaming now on Peacock.