After a stellar 2024 marked by critically acclaimed hits like Civil War, Sing Sing, and Baby Girl, expectations were high for what A24 would deliver next. But as 2025 arrived, the indie powerhouse stumbled out of the gate. Its first major release of the year, Opus, landed with more of a whimper than a bang. Despite boasting two of the most in-demand talents in the business in Ayo Edebiri and John Malkovich, the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January to a wave of mixed reviews. That lukewarm reception set the tone for its theatrical run, where Opus failed to gain traction at the box office. Now, four months later, the film is set to land on streaming, where broader exposure might offer it a second chance to find an audience.
Written and directed by Mark Anthony Green in his feature directorial debut, Opus follows “a young writer (Edebiri) who is invited to the remote compound of a legendary pop star (Malkovich) who mysteriously disappeared 30 years ago. Surrounded by the star’s cult of sycophants and intoxicated journalists, she finds herself in the middle of his twisted plan.” While the setup promised a stylish, high-concept psychological drama, critics largely felt the execution didn’t live up to its potential. The film scored a disappointing 41% on Rotten Tomatoes, with the site’s consensus noting: “John Malkovich is clearly having a ball playing a nefarious pop musician, but unfortunately, the rest of Opus is too conceptually confused for the star’s fun to be infectious.”
As with several of A24’s recent 2025 offerings, Opus resonated more with general audiences than critics, though only slightly. Viewers were a bit more forgiving, giving the film a modest 58% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcorn Meter. That tempered reaction, however, didn’t translate to the box office. Opus opened to a disappointing $1 million, barely half of its already conservative first week projections of between $2 million – $4 million. The film also struggled to stand out amid stiff competition from more favorably reviewed titles like Black Bag and Novocaine. In addition to Edebiri and Malkovich, Opus boasts a stacked supporting cast including Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Tony Hale, and Amber Midthunder, along with cameos from Bill Burr and CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.
What Else Is Coming to HBO Max?
Opus is set to begin streaming on A24’s partner platform, HBO Max, starting Friday, July 11, followed by its linear premiere on Saturday, July 12 at 8:00 p.m. ET. It joins a wave of upcoming A24 titles landing on the service next month, including Death of a Unicorn, starring Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd, which hits HBO Max on July 25, and On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, arriving earlier on July 5. Both films are also slated for next-day linear debuts.
Opus enters a crowded lineup on HBO Max with no shortage of competition. While it didn’t break through theatrically, the film’s bold concept, buzzy cast, and comparatively stronger audience reception could help it find renewed interest among curious streamers.
- Release Date
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March 14, 2025
- Runtime
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103 minutes
- Director
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Mark Anthony Green
- Writers
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Mark Anthony Green
- Producers
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Nile Rodgers, Charles D. King, Joshua Bachove, The-Dream, Brad Weston, Poppy Hanks
Source: Deadline