A24 released a new horror movie called Opus, which has done poorly at the box office and among critics, yet there is still hope that the production company can turn its luck around with several promising releases. Opus is a horror musical centering on Ariel Ecton, an ambitious journalist who gets a chance at fame when she is invited to a mysterious party by an iconic musician, Alfred Moretti. However, Ariel’s big break quickly turns into a nightmare when she finds herself constantly surveilled, unable to leave, and in danger of being killed like her peers.

Opus boasts a unique premise and a star-studded cast, yet the movie ultimately failed. On a rather small budget of $10 million, the movie only grossed $1.1 million at the box office. Furthermore, its Rotten Tomatoes scores sit at a 37% for critics and a 57% for audiences. Opus’s box office failure mainly comes from its storytelling. Critics felt that the film struggled to follow through with its myriad ideas, feeling more like a remake of other satirical horror movies rather than an original piece. Though strange and visually appealing, Opus did not stick its thematic landing.

A24’s Next Movie Is Paul Rudd & Jenna Ortega’s Death Of A Unicorn

How Death Of A Unicorn Is Similar & Different From Opus

Opus’s failure is disappointing for A24, but fortunately, the company has another movie on the horizon that can overshadow it. Set to premiere on March 28, 2025, Death of a Unicorn is another A24 horror movie which follows a father and daughter who accidentally run over a unicorn with their car. Soon enough, the mythical creature is exploited for its healing powers, leading to disastrous results, as the unicorn’s parents seek revenge. Death of a Unicorn is yet another star-studded affair, featuring Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Anthony Carrigan, and more.

In some respects, Opus and Death of a Unicorn appear to be quite similar. Both are horror movies with somewhat unusual premises; a musician-turned-cult-leader and the accidental death of a unicorn. Plus, the two films have notable casts that include both rising talents and established stars. Then again, Death of a Unicorn leans more on the comedic side than Opus. Additionally, it already has better reviews, despite being a week away from its official premiere. In this way, Death of a Unicorn looks like an opportunity for A24 to redeem itself after Opus.

Death Of A Unicorn Should Be A Bigger Box Office Success Than Opus

What Early Reviews Are Saying About Death Of A Unicorn

It seems likely that Death of a Unicorn will fare much better than Opus did, despite the movies’ similarities. One big reason is that Death of a Unicorn will probably get a wider release than Opus because its cast has slightly bigger stars. Ortega is just as beloved as Ayo Edebiri, but Rudd is arguably more relevant than John Malkovich, and he’s joined by Richard E. Grant. Thus, more theaters are likely to show the movie and more audiences may be persuaded to see it. It also helps that Death of a Unicorn is already raking in semi-positive reviews.

On Rotten Tomatoes, Death of a Unicorn has a 64% critics score, which is nearly double what Opus has. So far, early reviews have noted Death of a Unicorn’s high entertainment value and the fantastic performances of its cast. Furthermore, some have been impressed by the film’s wittiness and its ability to dive headfirst into a unique concept. To be fair, there have definitely been more disappointing reviews revolving around the movie’s originality, but for now, it seems to be making strides that Opus simply has not. Even a small success will be better than Opus’s shocking failure.

A24’s Remaining 2025 Movies Hold Great Box Office Potential Too

It Is Good That Opus Was Released When It Was

Even if Death of a Unicorn doesn’t clear A24’s name, the company has plenty of upcoming releases that can do far better than Opus. Films like Warfare, Bring Her Back, Materialists, and Marty Supreme all have the chance to succeed. After the success of 2024’s Civil War, Alex Garland’s Warfare could be another box office hit. The same goes for Bring Her Back, which comes after the Philippous’ nearly $100 million success with Talk To Me. Plus, actors like Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Timothee Chalamet give A24 plenty of potential for financial gain.

If anything, this stellar line-up shows how fortunate Opus’s release was. Having been released early in 2025, it will be easy for audiences to forget about the box office flop in the face of other A24 movies. More incredible actors and more strange premises will make it so that Opus never really happened. It is sad but true that this would be the best case scenario for both A24 and the cast of Opus. By pursuing newer and better projects, the failure of Opus can become nothing more than a dark blot on a mostly positive filmography.

What A24 Can Still Learn From Opus’ Box Office

There Is Plenty To Appreciate About Opus

A24 could use Opus’s failure as a lesson. Even though it didn’t earn the strongest reviews, it may have been beneficial to give Opus a wider release and more advertising. Audiences may not have enjoyed the film, but box office numbers could have been higher if more viewers actually went to see the movie. In the future, A24 may want to consider giving its movies more marketing to at least pique viewers’ interest. With big stars like Edebiri and Malkovich, it would be silly to bury the movie before it even has a chance to make money.

Also, it is important to note that Opus wasn’t a complete failure. Regardless of its finances and its bad reviews, the movie isn’t awful. In fact, it is more mediocre than it is straight-up bad. There are countless moments in Opus that are comical and interesting to look at. Plus, it is exciting to see Edebiri in a horror role, which is vastly different from her previous work. All in all, Opus may have failed, but it should not go down as the worst A24 movie in the world – at least not yet.