Kristen Stewart’s 2020 horror film Underwater didn’t do well at the box office at first, but it has become popular on streaming services. People have started to appreciate it for its surprising twist and the way it creates a spooky mood. Even though it didn’t attract many viewers in theaters, both fans and critics now think of it as a hidden treasure in the sci-fi horror category. This article looks at why Underwater struggled to make money, what went wrong when it was released in theaters, and how its special twist and resurgence on Netflix helped it become a surprise success.
The Story of Underwater: A Deep-Sea Thriller
Underwater, a sci-fi horror movie, came out on January 10, 2020. It was directed by William Eubank. The plot centers on a group of scientists working in a drilling station deep in the Mariana Trench. When a big earthquake hits and damages their base, they have to travel across the ocean floor to find safety. Meanwhile, they are chased by strange sea creatures. Kristen Stewart plays Norah Price, a mechanical engineer who becomes the unlikely leader of her team during this scary time.
The movie mixes survival elements with themes inspired by Lovecraft, and it has a surprising ending that shows what the real danger is hiding in the depths of the ocean.
Winning Fans With a Surprise
At first, Underwater had a hard time attracting viewers, but those who watched it discovered one of its best parts: a surprising twist at the end.
A Shocking Discovery
For most of the movie, it seems like the crew is being chased by ordinary sea monsters brought to life by their drilling. However, at the end, we find out that these creatures are actually young ones or servants of Cthulhu, a powerful being from H.P. Lovecraft’s stories that represents deep fear.
This surprise changes how we see everything that happened earlier, turning Underwater from just another monster movie into something much deeper and more unsettling. Fans of Lovecraft’s horror found this twist both unexpected and rewarding.
Feeling of Tight Spaces
Another reason fans love this film is its tense atmosphere. Almost all of Underwater takes place in dark, cramped areas, creating a feeling of loneliness and fear that stays with viewers even after the movie ends.
Why Did Underwater Flop at the Box Office?
Underwater had an interesting story and featured well-known actors like Kristen Stewart, Vincent Cassel, Jessica Henwick, Mamoudou Athie, and T.J. Miller. However, when it came out in theaters, it did not perform well. The movie cost between $50 million and $80 million to make, but it only earned $40.9 million worldwide. There were a few reasons for this disappointment:
Bad Timing
The movie was released in early January 2020, a time when studios usually put out films they do not believe will do well. It also came out just as people were starting to worry about COVID-19, which took over the news. This likely kept many viewers away.
Weak Marketing
The marketing for Underwater did not create much excitement or set it apart from other sci-fi horror movies like Alien or Cloverfield. The trailers focused more on action than on characters or the movie’s unique atmosphere, which didn’t help attract an audience.
Development Problems
Filming for Underwater finished in 2017, but its release was pushed back due to Disney buying 20th Century Fox, the studio that made the film. Because of this delay, the movie lost its momentum and relevance by the time it was finally released.
Mixed Reviews
Critics had mixed opinions about Underwater. Some liked the tense atmosphere, while others felt the characters were not developed enough and that the story was unoriginal. The film received average scores on sites like Rotten Tomatoes, which might have turned away some potential viewers.
Rediscovery on Netflix: A Surprise Hit Emerges
After not doing well in theaters, the movie Underwater found a new audience on Netflix when it was made available for streaming worldwide in late 2023. In just a few weeks after it launched on Netflix during the week of December 11–17, it achieved:
- 5.8 million views.
- Over 9.2 million hours watched.
- A spot at No. 6 on Netflix’s global Top 10 list for English-language movies that week.
This sudden success can be explained by a few reasons:
Kristen Stewart’s Growing Reputation
Since her role in Twilight, Kristen Stewart has changed her career with impressive performances in films like Spencer, where she earned an Oscar nomination for playing Princess Diana. Her reputation as a talented actor likely encouraged more people to check out earlier films like Underwater.
Easy Access to Streaming
Platforms like Netflix make it easy for people to find movies they missed in theaters without having to spend extra money, other than their subscription fee.
Cult Following
The mix of Lovecraftian elements and tense atmosphere has attracted fans of specific genres like cosmic horror—many of whom may have missed it when it first came out because of bad marketing or bad timing.
Is There a Chance for Underwater 2?
The popularity of Underwater on Netflix has gotten fans and regular viewers excited about the possibility of a sequel. Many are curious to see more about Cthulhu or other scary creatures from the deep that were hinted at in the first movie’s ending.
As of now (January 2025), there are no official plans for a sequel, but this renewed interest might encourage studios to think about making another film if enough people keep asking for it.