Troy Kotsur sat with a frustrated look on his face in 'Primate'Image via Paramount Pictures
By
Jake Hodges
Published Feb 12, 2026, 8:01 PM EST
In over three years at Collider, senior author Jake has now penned over 2500 articles covering a wide range of TV and film for the resources, lists, utilities, news, and interview teams. Alongside interviewing stars such as Selin Hizli, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Harlan Coben, and Chelsea Peretti, Jake was lucky enough to visit the set of Aardman and Netflix's Wallace and Gromit: A Vengeance Most Fowl in 2024, getting the chance to chat with four-time Academy Award winner Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham. Jake has also worked for other publications, including Agents of Fandom.
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We might only be just over a month into 2026, but the horror genre is already continuing its impressive streak of the past couple of years. Already, YouTuber Markiplier has surprised audiences with the impressive Iron Lung, director Sam Raimi has returned to the genre that made him an icon with the brilliantly bloody Send Help, and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple debuted to enormous critical fanfare. Sure, the likes of The Strangers: Chapter 3 and Return to Silent Hill prove that not every horror is destined to be a hit, but the quality on show in theaters in just six weeks is remarkably impressive.
Hidden among these notable names is an early contender for the most underrated horror movie of 2026: Primate. Johannes Roberts' latest horror project follows "a group of friends' tropical vacation turns into a terrifying, primal tale of horror and survival," and stars Academy Award-nominee Troy Kotsur, Johnny Sequoyah, and more in a frightening flick that has captured plenty of critical praise.
In Jeff Ewing's review of the movie for Collider, he said, "Primate isn't aiming to take the crown as the next elevated horror contender. It's not answering life's deepest questions or following layered characters on a journey of self-discovery. Primate is aimed at a singular cinematic experience, and that's to weave a gory tale of youngsters besieged by an unhinged chimp. That level of focus proves wildly successful, because Primate rocks."
After Primate's arrival on digital on February 10, the movie has instantly found its place among the upper echelons of the streaming charts. At the time of writing, the movie ranks #4 on the iTunes charts in the U.S., outperformed only by Zootopia 2, Marty Supreme, and Sydney Sweeney's erotic adaptation, The Housemaid. Primate will receive a physical release on DVD and Blu-ray on April 21.
How Did 'Primate' Perform at the Box Office?
As the theatrical run of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has proven, critical success in horror doesn't always equal box office triumph. This is, sadly, also the fate that befell Primate. Against a reported production budget of $24 million, Roberts' gory flick returned only $39.7 million in global revenue before it finally tapped out and turned to the digital charts, where it is already making quite an impression.
CL Report: Subscribe and never miss what matters
Dive into the world of entertainment with Collider, delivering the latest news, reviews, and exclusive updates from movies, TV, and pop culture Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.Primate is one of the most-streamed movies on the U.S. iTunes charts. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for the latest streaming stories.
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Primate
Like Follow Followed R Horror Thriller Release Date January 1, 2026 Runtime 89 minutes Director Johannes Roberts Writers Johannes Roberts, Ernest Riera Producers Vicki Dee Rock, Walter Hamada, John HodgesCast
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Johnny Sequoyah
Lucy
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Jessica Alexander
Hannah
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Horror
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Primate
CL Report: Subscribe and never miss what matters
Dive into the world of entertainment with Collider, delivering the latest news, reviews, and exclusive updates from movies, TV, and pop culture Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.What To Watch
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