Horrorcontinues to be a major audience draw as a genre, and this year has delivered horror successes likeLonglegs,Smile 2,and thecritically-acclaimedThe Substance. The genre continues to be attractive to filmmakers as horror flicks often feature smaller budgets, but this doesn’t deter audiences.Every year, there are a few standout horror hits, and 2022 is certainly no different.
2022 saw the release of theScreamlegacy sequel, which revitalized the franchise, andHalloween Ends, which ended that franchise’s reboot trilogy. A number of standout original horror movies were also released, includingBarbarian, which shocked audiences with its surprising twists and turns, andSmile, which reaped the benefits of a stellar marketing campaign to become a major box office success. Other notable titles includeJordan Peele’sNope, Bodies Bodies Bodies, The Menu, andMen, butthe year also delivered two installments of what would become a horror trilogy.
Pearl Ascends To Streaming Hit Status
Another X Franchise Installment Also Makes The List
Pearlhas become a major success on streaming after earning a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes in 2022. Directed by Ti West, the follow-up toX(2022) serves as a prequel, chronicling Pearl’s (Mia Goth) attempts to achieve stardom while living on her parents' isolated farm in 1918. The film was a hit with critics and audiences alike, andPearl’s journey would ultimately concludeinMaXXXine(2024), which marks the end of West’s low-budget horror trilogy.
Every X Movie In Ti West’s Trilogy, Ranked Worst To Best
MaXXXine has now concluded Ti West’s beloved X horror trilogy, and here are all three of the films in the series ranked from worst to best.
Following the release ofMaXXXineearlier this year, new data fromReelgoodnow reveals thatPearlranks as the tenth most popular movie on streaming for the week of October 24 – 30. The movie, which is streaming on Netflix, also isn’t the onlyXtitle to the make the list.MaXXXine(available on Max) actually comes in even higher at fifth place, beating titles likeIt’s What’s Inside(2024),Late Night With The Devil(2023),Canary Black(2024), andTerrifier(2016). Check out the full top 10 list, which is dominated by horror titles, below:
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Woman of the Hour
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Our Take On Pearl’s Streaming Success
Ti West’s X Trilogy Was A Breath Of Fresh Air
Xwas reportedly made on a budget of $1 million, andVarietyreports thatPearlwas likely made for about the same.The sequel ended up grossing almost $10 million at the box office, and the franchise as a whole is an undeniable success. ThoughMaXXXine’s reviewsweren’t quite as glowing as the ones forXorPearl, all three films are a testament to what can be accomplished on modest budgets when shepherded by a talented filmmaker with a unique vision.
Pearl’s streaming success – and the prevalence of horror on the Reelgood list, in general – is undoubtedly due to Halloween, and it’s proof that the genre continues to be a major audience draw at home, in addition to in theaters. It’s not yet clear what West will be doing next, but hisXtrilogy certainly makes him a filmmaker to keep an eye on. With Halloween now over, future streaming charts could be less horror-dominant, butPearlwill remain a genre entry worth checking out.
Pearl
Cast
Pearl, a prequel to the film X, follows the story of a young woman named Pearl residing on a secluded farm during the early 20th century. Directed by Ti West, this psychological horror explores Pearl’s descent into madness, delving into her troubled psyche and the haunting circumstances that surround her. Starring Mia Goth, the film provides a chilling backdrop and a character study of ambition and isolation gone awry.
