Blumhouse Will Release Horror Film River in 2027
The slasher film, which earned strong festival reviews, is slated for a wide release on January 15, 2027.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Horror
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Blumhouse and Universal have secured the rights to the slasher film River, which is scheduled to hit theaters on January 15, 2027. The project, written and directed by Joshua Giuliano, previously debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Why it matters
Blumhouse acquired the distribution rights for $10 million, positioning the highly-rated thriller as a major early-year release. Its performance will be closely watched as it competes against other high-profile titles including The Beekeeper 2 and Children of Blood and Bone.
The film holds a 94% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 31 critical reviews. Blumhouse purchased the distribution rights to the production for $10 million.
The players
Blumhouse
This production company is widely known for its commercially successful low-budget horror franchise model.
Joshua Giuliano
He is the writer and director of the upcoming slasher film River.
Jane Levy
She is an actress featured in the film who is known for her prior roles in horror and television projects.
Jessica Rothe
She is an actress starring in the film who gained prominence through her work in the Happy Death Day franchise.
Shudder
This is a subscription-based streaming service that focuses exclusively on horror, thriller, and supernatural fiction.
The details
Produced by Independent Film Company and Shudder, the slasher stars Jane Levy, Jessica Rothe, Max Mattern, and Dane DiLiegro. The film was acquired by Blumhouse and Universal following its successful premiere in Toronto.
Timeline
January 15, 2027 is the scheduled release date for River.
January 17, 2025 saw the theatrical release of the film Wolf Man.
Industry Dynamics
The acquisition of River follows the established pattern of Blumhouse's low-budget horror production model of securing high-quality indie genre films for wide distribution. This move reflects a broader trend of major studios leveraging festival circuit buzz to populate their theatrical slates.
Moviegoers can expect a wide theatrical release for the film starting January 15, 2027. The title will face direct competition at the box office, potentially impacting showtime availability in major cinema chains.
The takeaway
Horror fans should track the film's festival reputation as a predictor of quality for future Blumhouse acquisitions. This release date scheduling indicates a strategic effort to capture audience interest during the competitive winter theatrical window.
Further reading
For more on upcoming genre releases, visit the Horror section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ScreenRant.
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