Him (2025) — Film Report

An overview of the horror–thriller produced by Monkeypaw Productions and released by Universal Pictures.

Quick Summary

• Director: Justin Tipping; Writers: Skip Bronkie, Zack Akers, Justin Tipping.
• Producers: Monkeypaw Productions (Jordan Peele).
• Cast: Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, and others.
• Budget: $27M; Worldwide Gross: $13.5M.
• Critical reception: Rotten Tomatoes 29% (based on 146 reviews); Metacritic 38/100 (30 critics); CinemaScore C–.
• Release: Mexico on September 18, 2025; US on September 19, 2025.

Introduction

Him is a 2025 American horror thriller directed by Justin Tipping and produced by Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions. The story follows a rising football prospect mentored by an aging superstar, blending sports mythology with body horror and cult overtones.

Plot (Brief)

After a concussion and a mysterious attack, Cameron “Cam” Cade trains at the remote compound of his idol, quarterback Isaiah White. The week devolves into violent rituals tied to a secret G.O.A.T. lineage that transfers power via blood. The climax pits protege against mentor in a deadly initiation.

Cast

Actor	Role
Marlon Wayans	Isaiah White
Tyriq Withers	Cameron “Cam” Cade
Julia Fox	Elsie White
Tim Heidecker	Tom
Don Benjamin	Cam Sr.
Jim Jefferies	Marco
Naomi Grossman	Marjorie
Maurice Greene	Malek
Additional cast	Norman Towns, Chase Garland, Guapdad 4000, and others

Production & Music

The screenplay, initially titled Goat, was acquired by Monkeypaw/Universal after making the 2022 Black List. Principal photography wrapped in November 2024 in and around Albuquerque, New Mexico, including Spaceport America. Bobby Krlic composed the score. The soundtrack released September 19, 2025, with singles by Guapdad 4000 & Mavi (“Swim”), Tierra Whack (“Tip Toe”), Jean Dawson (“Blitz”), and Denzel Curry (“Him”).

Release

Released in Mexico on September 18, 2025, and in the United States on September 19, 2025 by Universal Pictures.

Box Office

Region	Gross (USD)
United States & Canada	$13.3M
Other Territories	$0.258M
Total Worldwide	$13.5M
Production Budget (net)	$27M

Critical Reception

Source	Score	Sample Size	Notes
Rotten Tomatoes	29%	146 reviews	Generally negative; praise for concept, critique of execution.
Metacritic	38/100	30 critics	“Generally unfavorable.”
CinemaScore	C–	—	Opening-night audience polling.

Representative commentary: Some critics highlight the film’s provocative exploration of hero worship and sacrifice in elite sports; others argue the tonal mix of satire and horror undercuts its intended social critique.

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Unpacking Him: A Tale of Football, Ambition, and Horror Falls Short of Greatness

In the high-stakes world of American football, where ambition and sacrifice collide, Him (2025), directed by Justin Tipping and produced by Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, aims to score a touchdown with its blend of horror, thriller, and social commentary. The film follows Cameron “Cam” Cade, a rising football star played by Tyriq Withers, as he trains under the mentorship of aging quarterback legend Isaiah White, portrayed by Marlon Wayans, at a remote desert compound. Marketed as a chilling exploration of the costs of athletic greatness, Him promises a provocative narrative about the “Greatest of All Time” (G.O.A.T.) legacy. However, despite its ambitious premise and star-studded cast, the film has stumbled, earning lackluster reviews and a modest box office performance. This blog post dives into Him’s narrative, production, and reception, analyzing its strengths, shortcomings, and what it reveals about the intersection of sports and storytelling.

The Plot: A Game of Sacrifice and Secrets

Him centers on Cam Cade, a young quarterback whose dreams of playing for the San Antonio Saviors are tested by a traumatic head injury and a sinister mentorship. The story begins with a young Cam witnessing his idol, Isaiah White, suffer a career-threatening injury during a championship game. Years later, Cam, now a rising star, faces his own injury—a concussion that could end his career if aggravated. Encouraged by his agent, Tom (Tim Heidecker), Cam accepts an invitation to train with Isaiah at his isolated compound, hoping to secure his place as the next G.O.A.T.

The compound, however, is a house of horrors. Isaiah subjects Cam to bizarre and brutal training methods, including drills that risk further injury and injections of what Cam believes are performance enhancers but are revealed to be Isaiah’s blood. As Cam grapples with hallucinations and violent encounters with crazed fans, the film unveils a chilling conspiracy: Isaiah is part of a lineage of G.O.A.T. players who pass on their prowess through ritualistic blood transfusions, culminating in a fight to the death. Cam’s journey becomes a battle for survival as he uncovers the dark machinations of the Saviors’ owners, his own father’s involvement, and the true cost of greatness.

The plot attempts to weave horror with a critique of the sports industry’s obsession with legacy and sacrifice. It draws parallels to real-world issues like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and the pressure on athletes to push beyond their physical limits. However, critics argue that Him struggles to balance its horror elements with its social commentary, resulting in a disjointed narrative that fails to fully engage its audience.

Production and Performance: A High-Budget Fumble

Him was a significant undertaking for Monkeypaw Productions and Universal Pictures. The spec script, originally titled Goat, was acquired in June 2022 after being voted onto the 2022 Black List of best unproduced screenplays. With a net production budget of $27 million, the film was shot in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with Spaceport America serving as the eerie exterior for Isaiah’s compound. The cast, featuring Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, Julia Fox, and Tim Heidecker, brought a mix of comedic and dramatic talent to the project, while Bobby Krlic’s haunting score and a soundtrack featuring artists like Denzel Curry and Tierra Whack aimed to amplify the film’s atmosphere.

Despite its promising foundation, Him has underperformed at the box office. As of September 21, 2025, the film has grossed $13.5 million worldwide, with $13.3 million from the United States and Canada and $258,000 from other territories. Released alongside A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, Him earned $6.5 million on its opening day, including $2 million from Thursday previews, but fell short of projections ($15–18 million) with a $13.5 million opening weekend, placing second behind Demon Slayer. The table below summarizes the film’s box office performance:

Region	Gross (USD)	Percentage of Total
United States and Canada	$13,300,000	98.5%
Other Territories	$258,000	1.5%
Worldwide Total	$13,558,000	100%

Critical Reception: A Mixed Playbook

Critics have largely panned Him, with a 29% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 146 reviews and a Metacritic score of 38/100, indicating “generally unfavorable” reviews. Audiences echoed this sentiment, giving the film a C– grade on CinemaScore. Reviewers praised the film’s ambition and visual style but criticized its execution. Peter Debruge of Variety offered a positive take, noting that Him prompts reflection on the sport’s demands, but others, like David Ehrlich of IndieWire (C– grade), found its blend of satire and horror uneven, with “leaden dialogue” undermining its critique. Robert Daniel of RogerEbert.com was particularly harsh, awarding a 0.5/4 rating and criticizing the film’s inconsistent tone and underdeveloped horror elements, such as the unclear effects of the blood injections and a poorly integrated Jesus motif.

Marlon Wayans, addressing the negative reviews, defended the film’s innovative approach, suggesting that some films are ahead of their time and that audience interpretation varies. He encouraged viewers to see Him for themselves, citing his history of starring in films that later became cult classics despite initial critical backlash.

Analyzing the Data: Where Him Missed the Mark

To understand Him’s reception, let’s examine its critical and audience feedback through a chart comparing its performance metrics to its ambitions. The chart below visualizes the film’s Rotten Tomatoes score, Metacritic score, CinemaScore grade (converted to a numerical scale for comparison), and box office performance relative to its budget.

Note: CinemaScore C– is approximated as 60/100 for comparison, based on a simplified A+ (100) to F (0) scale.

The chart highlights Him’s struggles across multiple dimensions. The low Rotten Tomatoes (29%) and Metacritic (38/100) scores reflect critical dissatisfaction, while the CinemaScore (C–) indicates lukewarm audience reception. The box office figure of $13.5 million, significantly below the $27 million budget, suggests that Him has not resonated with a wide audience, potentially due to its niche horror-sports hybrid genre and mixed execution.

The Bigger Picture: Sports, Sacrifice, and Storytelling

Him attempts to tackle weighty themes: the physical and psychological toll of professional sports, the commodification of athletes, and the cult-like obsession with athletic greatness. The G.O.A.T. ritual, with its blood transfusions and deadly stakes, serves as a metaphor for the extreme sacrifices demanded of athletes, particularly in football, where injuries like CTE pose real risks. The film’s use of horror elements—hallucinations, masked attackers, and body horror—aims to amplify these themes, but critics argue that the execution feels heavy-handed and disjointed.

For business leaders and policymakers, Him raises questions about the ethics of sports culture. The film’s depiction of a shadowy cabal orchestrating Cam’s rise mirrors real-world concerns about exploitation in professional athletics, where young athletes are often pressured to prioritize performance over health. However, the film’s failure to cohesively blend its horror and social commentary limits its impact as a cautionary tale.

Conclusion: A Missed Opportunity

Him had all the makings of a groundbreaking film: a talented cast, a visionary production team, and a provocative premise. Yet, its inability to balance horror, satire, and social critique has left it short of the end zone. The film’s $13.5 million box office haul against a $27 million budget and its 29% Rotten Tomatoes score underscore its challenges in capturing audiences and critics alike. While Marlon Wayans remains optimistic about its potential as a future cult classic, Him currently stands as a cautionary tale of ambition outpacing execution.

For business leaders, Him serves as a reminder that bold ideas require precise execution to succeed in competitive markets. For policymakers, it highlights the need to address the systemic pressures facing athletes. For audiences, it’s a film that sparks curiosity but ultimately fumbles its potential. As Wayans suggests, viewers may still find value in experiencing Him for themselves, but its legacy as a G.O.A.T. contender remains uncertain.