A horror movie from 17 years ago, The Ruins, has found a new streaming home, and it will give fans another chance to see why this film was so scary. The Ruins is the feature directorial debut of Carter Smith, based on the novel and screenplay by Scott B. Smith. It follows two couples who visit a remote Mayan ruin in Mexico, only to learn to their horror that it is inhabited by a man-eating vine growth, which then targets them. With native villagers not allowing them to leave, these couples have to fight for their survival.

The acting talent included mostly fresh faces for 2008, with Jena Malone, Jonathan Tucker, Laura Ramsey, and The Rookie’s Shawn Ashmore playing the two couples and Joe Anderson playing Mathias, a man looking for his missing brother. This horror film was a box office disappointment when it came out, not making back its budget, while earning mixed reviews from critics, and even less appreciation from fans. However, with The Ruins coming to a new streaming home geared towards horror, there is hope that more fans will come around to this gory and scary film.

What This Means For The Ruins

The Classic Horror Movie Is A Streaming Hit

When The Ruins came out in 2008, fans and critics didn’t know what to think about it. This was normal for horror movies, which often fall short when it comes to critical and audience appreciation, even if they succeed in what the directors set out to do — disturb and scare viewers. Sadly, this means the film failed to find an audience in theaters, with only a $22.9 million take on a $25 million budget (via The Numbers). However, many times, horror movies are overlooked at the theater, but they find a perfect home when they land on a streaming service.

The idea is terrifying, with two couples heading out on a vacation and finding terror and death instead. The four ended up not battling other people, although villagers were there to ensure they couldn’t escape, but nature. The vines on the ruins attacked these youngsters and refused to relent. Getting more attention for The Ruins is something the film deserves, and it is now coming to Shudder, with it debuting on the platform on July 1. This horror service is perfect for fans wanting the gore and scares The Ruins delivers.

Our Take On The Ruins Coming To Shudder

This Is A Good Sign For Horror Movies

While some believe streaming services hurt films at the box office, services like Shudder are perfect for a genre that is not always successful at the multiplex. Movies like The Ruins might not do well on the big screen, although the experience was terrifying when it came out. However, it works just as well at home, in the dark, with a horror service offering it up as a new offering. Seeing The Ruins on Shudder might finally make the film the cult hit that it always deserved to be.

The Ruins isn’t the only movie coming to Shudder in July 2025. Also joining the service is the Betty White alligator movie Lake Placid, the classic Stephen King adaptation Cujo, the feral dog movie The Pack, and the biopic Mary Shelley, based on the author of Frankenstein.