The widely acclaimed horror video game Until Dawn was brought to the big screen in 2025, and it continues the popular trend of video game movies in the 2020s. Released in 2015 and developed by Supermassive Games, Until Dawn draws heavy inspiration from horror movies of the past and follows a group of young people who are tormented by evil forces while staying in a remote cabin. The game was specifically designed to terrify the player, and it was made with a cinematic edge, including recognizable actors in the main roles.

While the gameplay itself was rather light, Until Dawn scored points with critics for its brilliant story, well-written script, and the performances by stars like Rami Malek, Hayden Panettiere, and Peter Stormare. Follow-ups were developed, and a spiritual successor, The Quarry, was released in 2022, which scored equally high marks from gaming critics and fans alike. Naturally, with such a cinematic game, it only makes sense that Hollywood would want to adapt Until Dawn into a feature film.

The Until Dawn Movie Box Office & Critical Reception

A Box Office Winner With No Bite

Horror films can be hit or miss with critics, and while some modern horror flicks are beloved, the genre is typically not well-reviewed. The same goes for Until Dawn, which has garnered a somewhat tepid response from critics who have seen the film. The Guardian called the film well-made but ultimately unscary, and IGN echoed those sentiments by lamenting that the film merely plays into horror tropes instead of dissecting them. In the end, it seems as if Until Dawn didn't do enough to build upon its interesting premise, even though its production was slick and polished.

While the critical reaction to Until Dawn has been poor, the film is already on its way to becoming a financial success. On a reported budget of $15 million (via Collider), Until Dawn scored around $18 million worldwide in its first weekend (via Box Office Mojo), which means it will likely break even soon. The movie's opening weekend may have been somewhat weak, but it is still impressive considering Until Dawn is going up against Sinners, a big-budget horror film.

Though it's impossible to know exactly what the film's marketing and advertising budget is, the rule of thumb is generally 1.5 to 2 times the production budget.

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The Until Dawn Movie Cast

A Cast Of Rising Young Stars

The only game cast member who has returned for the is Peter Stormare as Hill. However, Until Dawn has added an all-new cast played by several rising stars. The Idea of You's Ella Rubin plays the role of Clover, and s the likes of Michael Cimino (Love Victor) as Max, Ji-young Yoo (Expats) as Megan, and Odessa A’zion (Hellraiser) as Nina. Furthermore, the cast added Maia Mitchell (Teen Beach Movie) to play the role of Melanie and Belmont Cameli (Along for the Ride) as Abel. Melanie is Clover's older sister, whose disappearance is the impetus for the story.

The cast of Until Dawn includes:

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The Until Dawn Movie Trailers

Watch The Movie's Trailers Below

A few months before the movie's premiere in April 2025, Sony Picture released a full-length trailer for Until Dawn which reveals the creepy conceit of the film. Arriving in a strange small town on the hunt for a missing friend, the group of characters begin experiencing strange phenomena at a creepy house they're staying in. A masked killer arrives and picks them off one by one, only for the heroes to return from the dead when a mysterious hourglass turns back time. Desperate to escape the time loop, the characters discover they must survive until dawn in order to escape.

In February 2025, Sony dropped another extended trailer for Until Dawn that offers a closer look at the movie's various monsters. Hammering home the time loop aspect of the plot, the trailer shows off the various villains that are on hand to hack the characters apart. Several recognizable icons from the game are seen, and even a few gruesome teases about how the time loop can affect the heroes.

The Until Dawn Movie Ending & Spoilers

A Surprising Ending Connects The Movie & Game

The movie also nods to a detail from the game, which hints that they both exist in the same universe.

Until Dawn was already going to be different from the game, since the movie doesn't really adapt the popular title directly. Instead, the conclusion offered something of a happy ending, though it did give a few teases about a much larger horror universe. While it's unlikely that the main characters of the movie will be returning, the supernatural forces at work could certainly ensnare more unwitting victims in the future. The movie also nods to a detail from the game, which hints that they both exist in the same universe.

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