Jordan Peele’s Him has debuted with an underwhelming Rotten Tomatoes score. Directed by Justin Tipping and produced by Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, Him is a psychological sports thriller which follows a young rising‑star football player named Cameron Cade who is forced to confront the sinister side of ambition while training at the isolated compound of legendary quarterback, Isaiah White.
Him features a star-studded cast, with Tyriq Withers as Cam and Marlon Wayans as Isaiah, alongside the supporting roles played by Julia Fox, Jim Jeffries, and Tim Heidecker. The highly anticipated Peele-produced thriller is scheduled to be released by Universal Pictures in the U.S. on September 19. However, early critical reactions have been largely negative so far.
Him has opened with a 28% Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes, a surprisingly low rating given the pedigree behind it. This score accounts for only 25 reviews on the review aggregator site, as it has not debuted to wider audiences yet. That being said, Him‘s Rotten Tomatoes score comes from top critics at Variety, SlashFilm, Vulture Magazine, and THR.
What This RT Score Means For Jordan Peele’s Him
The low critical score signals that Him, despite its intriguing premise, doesn’t land the way critics expected from a Jordan Peele-backed project. In comparison, Peele’s previous directorial efforts (Get Out, Us, Nope) have Rotten Tomatoes scores in the 80s or higher, with Get Out at an astounding 98%. Although Peele didn’t direct Him, his attachment raised expectations.
Many critics point to Him‘s tone and themes as key reasons for its disappointing reception, stating that although the script was probably great to read, the film itself is a major misfire. Others lamented its lack of tension or horror impact, as it doesn’t really deep dive into the genres that were promised, with its ending being unsurprising.
Still, Him isn’t without defenders, as some argue the film does get audiences thinking about the impact and demand of sports. Despite the mixed reviews, there is recognition of how Him dares to be different, although it seems that its execution doesn’t always follow through. Furthermore, there was notable praise for Marlon Wayans’ performance, such as in ScreenRant‘s Him movie review.
Our Take On Him’s Low Rotten Tomatoes Score
The harsh reception to Him is a shock, especially considering the momentum Peele has built as one of this generation’s most visionary genre voices. So, naturally, any project bearing his name carries weight, which only makes Him‘s low score more disappointing, as many regarded it as one of 2025’s most exciting horror movies for that reason.
Him‘s initial concept was undeniably promising, painting a surreal horror rooted in celebrity worship, sports trauma, and toxic mentorship, told through a stylish, eerie lens befitting Peele’s repertoire. Therefore, it’s a shame critics haven’t enjoyed it. However, Him may still receive a better audience score, especially among fans of experimental horror or sports-themed thrillers.
