It’s The Perfect Time To Watch HBO Max’s 89% RT Horror Film From 2025

HBO Max has a 2025 A24 horror film that was a hit with critics, and it’s the perfect time to watch it. Bring Her Back would make for an excellent viewing in the midst of an amazing trend the horror genre is currently experiencing.

2025 was a great year for the horror genre. Several horror flicks were well-received by critics, and many were commercially successful. For example, Sinners was a box office success and a critical hit. It earned a 97% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed around $370.3 million worldwide. The film also earned a record-high 16 Oscar nominations in 2026, winning four awards: Best Cinematography, Best Score, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Actor.

Another horror hit from 2025 was Weapons. The film grossed over $270 million worldwide, and earned a 93% RT critic score. The film also received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, which was won by Amy Madigan for her performance as Aunt Gladys. Other horror hits from last year include new franchise installments, like Final Destination: Bloodlines, The Conjuring: Last Rites, The Black Phone 2, and Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, which all were commercially successful.

One streaming service where a few of these films can be viewed is HBO Max. The platform’s horror catalog currently includes The Conjuring 4, Final Destination 6, Sinners, and Weapons. Additionally, many of the films from The Conjuring franchise and the Final Destination series are available to stream.

The streaming platform also includes independent horror films that were critical darlings. One of these films is Bring Her Back, the second horror movie from directors Danny and Michael Philippou, who came from the YouTube channel, RackaRacka. With two YouTuber-directed horror films currently becoming huge box office success stories, it’s a great time to watch Bring Her Back, and see another horror flick directed by YouTubers.

Bring Her Back Is Streaming On HBO Max

The Philippou brothers became notable horror directors after 2023’s Talk To Me. The film earned a 94% RT critic score, and grossed around $92 million worldwide. The directing duo returned in 2025 with Bring Her Back. The film centers on two siblings, played by Billy Barratt and Sora Wong, who move to a new foster home. However, their new home appears to have a sinister secret that may be connected to their new foster mother, played by Sally Hawkins.

Bring Her Back grossed over $39.4 million worldwide. While it wasn’t as big of a box office success as Talk to Me, it was still well received by critics, earning an 89% RT critic score. The film is a disturbing and effective horror film that uses a chilling supernatural threat to build out its characters. It’s filled with dread and haunting imagery, but also features fantastic performances from the entire cast. It’s worth watching for its engaging narrative and memorable performances, and a good option for those who enjoyed the Philippou brothers’ first film.

Bring Her Back Is A Part Of The Current YouTuber Horror Trend

The horror genre is currently seeing a trend of movies directed by YouTubers. One of the first examples of this was 2016’s Lights Out, directed by David F. Sandberg. The film was a critical and commercial success, getting a 74% RT critic score and grossing around $149.4 million worldwide. Other recent horror movies directed by YouTubers include 2025’s Together, directed by Michael Shanks, 2025’s Shelby Oaks, directed by Chris Stuckmann, and 2026’s Iron Lung, directed by Markiplier.

Currently, two YouTuber-directed horror films have become huge success stories in 2026. Obsession, directed by Curry Barker, has been a huge hit both critically and commercially, earning a 94% RT critic score and grossing $287.2 million worldwide. It’s an incredibly successful film that has had an amazing theatrical run since it opened in theaters on May 15, 2026.

Meanwhile, Backrooms, directed by Kane Parsons, is also a hit with critics and at the box office. The film currently holds an 88% RT critic score and has grossed over $248.7 million worldwide. Backrooms and Obsession continue this trend of YouTuber-directed horror movies, which Bring Her Back is also a part of. The 2025 film is currently streaming on HBO Max, and is a great option when looking for a horror film to watch.

Release Date

May 30, 2025

Runtime

99 minutes

Director

Michael Philippou, Danny Philippou

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