James Wan has directed some of the most popular horror movies of our time. These films include Saw, Insidious, and The Conjuring. Notably, he delivered a rather subversive film in 2021, which has received divisive reactions from both critics and audiences. It’s this particular horror film that’s now doing surprising numbers on Max.
Of course, those who love the film are likely fans of its own campy and cult classic influences. This particular movie, Malignant, is inspired by the likes of Frank Henenlotter’s body horror flicks and Dario Argento’s Giallo masterpieces. It’s a gruesome throwback to the video store era. As revealed via FlixPatrol, then, it’s quite appropriate to see this horror film break into the Top 10 on Max.
In fact, as of this writing, Malignant is the third highest streamed film on the streaming platform. This also makes it the second most-viewed horror movie, just behind Meg 2: The Trench, which happens to occupy the number one spot. The drama film Dog is number two.
In any case, it’s great to see that Malignant continues to attract viewers. Much like its spiritual predecessors, it’s the type of movie that was destined to become a cult classic. Strong word-of-mouth has certainly carried it far. And while it’s not as widely appreciated as something like The Conjuring, there are cult fans who certainly embrace it just as much.
For those unfamiliar, it’s best going into Malignant as blind as possible. It’s a film that delivers a brilliant series of twists and turns as its wacky plot unfolds. The premise essentially revolves around Annabelle Wallis’s character, Madison Lake-Mitchell, who struggles with visions of people being murdered. It only grossed $34.9 million on a $40 million budget, but it was released theatrically during the pandemic and on Max’s predecessor, HBO Max, at the same time.
Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional horror news or other updates regarding Max. For now, fans can currently stream Malignant on the platform or purchase it altogether on DVD, Blu-ray, or 4K UHD.