Summary
WhileA24’s new horror movieY2Klooks fun, the comedy is already a major risk for its indie distributor.A24’s horror moviesare often brilliant, but they can be something of a mixed bag. Although the distributor became popular thanks to the success of titles likeThe Witch,Hereditary, andMidsommar, A24 also released divisive efforts like 2022’sMenand 2014’sTusk. Much likethe rest of A24’s movies, the studio’s horror output is mixed in terms of its critical reception and its box office impact.
However, 2024 still promises to be a big year for the distributor. After the disappointment ofMen, A24 won big by betting on director Alex Garland again whenCivil Warproved a huge box office success. Meanwhile,A24’s upcoming horror movieHereticboasts the talents ofA Quiet Place’s screenwriters as well as the ingeniously unexpected stunt casting of Hugh Grant as its terrifying villain. Neither of these movies is quite as exciting as director Kyle Mooney’sY2K, though. An alternate reality horror-comedy,Y2Kenvisions a world where the Millennium Bug was a real threat after all.
Every A24 Movie Releasing In 2024
The wildly consistent and popular production/distribution company A24 has several very exciting projects set for wide release in 2024.
A24’s Y2K Is A24’s First Horror Comedy Since Beau Is Afraid’s Failure
The Apocalyptic Horror Comedy Is A Risky Investment
With a lineup including Rachel Zegler, Alicia Silverstone, Julian Dennison, and Jaeden Martell,Y2K’s cast of characterscouldn’t be more impressive. What makes the movie even more appealing is its simple premise. At first,Y2K’s trailer promises a coming-of-age comedy where a pair of high schoolers attend a wild party that changes their lives. After establishing this well-worn promise borrowed fromSuperbadandBooksmart,Y2K’s trailer then switches gears as the house party descends into gory chaos. The world’s electronics react violently to the Millennium Bug, killing off countless characters asY2K’s heroes are forced to hide or fight.
Y2K shares Beau Is Afraid’s historically risky sub-genre.
It turns out thatY2Kis a gory horror-comedy rather than a straightforward comedy, but this could be a risky investment for A24.A24’s last horror-comedy,Beau Is Afraid, was a box office disaster one year beforeY2K’s release, andY2KsharesBeau Is Afraid’s historically risky sub-genre. To be fair to Mooney’s movie,Y2Klooks much more accessible than the infamously weird, offbeatBeau Is Afraid. However,Y2K’s more commercial premise and tonal advantages are undone by its cast, which doesn’t feature an A-list star of Joaquin Phoenix’s magnitude. Phoenix’s central role wasn’t enough to saveBeau Is Afraidfrom failure.
A24’s Horror Comedies Have Historically Struggled
The Indie Distributor Struggles To Sell Horror Comedies
WhileA24’s other 2024 horror movieseems like a surefire box office winner,Y2Khas a more complicated road ahead of it. Almost all of A24’s horror-comedy movies are among the distributor’s least popular releases among critics. 2021’sFalse Positive, 2018’sSlice, and 2014’sLife After Bethall struggled to win over critics beforeBeau Is Afraidbombed at the box office and divided reviewers. With the lone exception of 2022’sBodies Bodies Bodies, A24’s horror-comedies have all under-performed critically, commercially, or both upon release.
Y2K’s story of a Millennium Bug that causes bloody mayhem may still be able to avoid A24’s horror-comedy curse.
Fortunately,Bodies Bodies Bodiesdoes provide a little hope for Y2K. UnlikeY2K,Bodies Bodies Bodieswas a satirical slasher rather than a sci-fi horror mashed up with a coming-of-age comedy. However, bothBodies Bodies BodiesandY2Kare marketed more as comedies than horrors and both boast buzzy casts filled with young emerging stars. As such,Y2K’s story of a Millennium Bugthat causes bloody mayhem may still be able to avoid A24’s horror-comedy curse. Sadly, early reactions toY2K’s trailer prove this won’t be easy.
A24’s Y2K Reception Is Already Divided
The Teen Comedy Has A Starry Cast But May Struggle With Critics
The arrival ofY2K’s trailer prompted mixed responses, with some viewers wondering whether the horror movie was intended to be funny and others debating whether the horror elements were intended to be played straight. This doesn’t bode too well for the movie, althoughY2K’s later trailers might be able to clear up tonal confusion. The central issue seems to arise from the fact thatY2K’s trailer hides its horror elements for as long as possiblebefore finally revealing them with a cheeky “From the studio that brought you Hereditary.”
Y2Kwill almost certainly not be as dark as that Ari Aster movie. However, this did lead some commenters to derisively note thatY2K’s trailer mentionedHereditarydespite seeming closer in tone toSmall Soldiers. Although Joe Dante’s underrated 1998 adventure movie does seem like an influence, this impression could lead viewers to wonder whoY2K’s target audience is considering the movie’s graphic violence. Hopefully,A24’s marketing forY2Kwill be able to clarify the intended tone of the horror-comedy before the sub-genre ends up producing another undeserved box office under-performer.
