Blumhouse Launches 2027 Release Schedule With New Slasher Horror After Positive Reviews

Published Oct 1, 2026, 4:04 PM EDT Hannah Gearan (she/her) is has been writing for ScreenRant for over three years. Her deep cinema love traces back to age 11, when she equipped herself with a spiral-bound notebook, rated all the films she watched, and declared herself a critic. About a decade later, she received a BA from Wesleyan University, where she studied Film, Environmental Studies, and Writing. Hannah’s short film, Toxic Faucets, has screened at numerous film festivals, including the Independent Film Festival of Boston (IFFBoston). As a Movie News writer now, she draws upon her vast experience studying, making, and analyzing film as she approaches dynamic breaking stories. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Blumhouse will officially start the 2027 release slate with a slasher film. For nearly two decades, the studio has been one of the leading producers of horror movies. They are especially known for their ability to produce quality, profit-turning movies on a relatively small budget, with Paranormal Activity remaining their $15,000 shining example. The company has continued this trend of small-budget projects becoming box-office hits. Obsession, for instance, was made for less than $1 million and grossed a record-shattering $519.4 million worldwide. IndieWire recently revealed that Blumhouse has set a release date for their upcoming film River. The movie will kick off the studio's 2027 season, releasing on January 15, 2027. According to the current release schedule, the movie will face off against Jason Statham's The Beekeeper 2 and Children of Blood and Bone. River is a slasher horror film that recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. The story follows three siblings who wind up stranded in a boat on a county river, and they are being hunted down by a killer. The movie is written and directed by Joshua Giuliano and features a leading cast of Jane Levy, Jessica Rothe, Max Mattern, and Dane DiLiegro. The project was produced by Independent Film Company and Shudder before being picked up by Blumhouse, and Universal swept in to purchase its rights for $10 million. River had a great reception at TIFF, making it a strong selection for Blumhouse to start the 2027 schedule. At the time of writing, the slasher flick has a 94% Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes based on 31 reviews. Critics praised Giuliano's directorial approach and technical elements such as the movie's sound design. ScreenRant's own review was a little more mixed, giving the movie 5 out of 10 stars and noting its conventional plot. But with positive reviews overall, River has the potential to continue Blumhouse's hot streak. It had three back-to-back profitable films going into this year, with Five Nights at Freddy's 2 rounding out 2025, and Lee Cronin's The Mummy and Obsession kicking things off. River could really keep this momentum strong if it performs as well as its initial response indicates it could. The early days of the year have not always proven successful for Blumhouse. Wolf Man released on January 17, 2025, and grossed just $36.8 million on what was a hefty budget of $25 million. Plus, River will not be without competition — The Beekeeper 2 especially has the potential, with Statham and repeat viewers from the original, who may feel more comfortable with a franchise returnee than a newer title. Nonetheless, River's strong initial response sets it in good standing to start off 2027's horror year strong. River Release Date September 10, 2026 Runtime 92 minutes Director Joshua Giuliano Writers Joshua Giuliano Cast