I Saw The TV Glow has become a streaming success after its release earlier this year. Directed by Jane Schoenbrun, the A24 horror film stars Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine as two teenagers who bond over a sci-fi TV show that begins to make them their question their realities. Reviews for I Saw the TV Glow were generally positive from critics, and the film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2024 before a limited theatrical release in May, currently has an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Now, new data from Reelgood reveals that I Saw the TV Glow ranks seventh on a list of the most popular streaming movies in the U.S. for the week of September 19 – 24. The film, which is streaming on Max, beats A Quiet Place: Day One (2024) at number 8, Beetlejuice (1988) at number 9, and Kinds of Kindness (2024) at number 10. In descending order, I Saw the TV Glow falls behind Uglies (2024), The Fall Guy (2024), Challengers (2024), Rebel Ridge (2024), His Three Daughers (2024), and, at number one, Civil War (2024).
What I Saw The TV Glow’s Streaming Success Means For The Film
How The A24 Movie Did At The Box Office
I Saw the TV Glow may have fared well with critics, but it struggled to find its footing with audiences. The movie, which has a 70% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, was made on an estimated budget of $10 million, but grossed only $5.3 million worldwide. The vast majority of this total came from the limited North American release, however, as the film was not widely released outside the U.S. and Canada.
It’s unlikely that I Saw the TV Glow‘s performance on VOD and streaming will offset these box office losses. The film does, however, seem ripe to become a cult classic in the coming years as more people discover it, and availability on streaming could go a long way in this respect. Some captivating imagery and an interesting title could be enough to get viewers to watch the film at home, but it’s I Saw the TV Glow‘s themes, particularly those relating to gender and transsexuality, that will help it stand the test of time and continue to widen its reach.
Our Take On I Saw The TV Glow’s Streaming Success
Schoenbrun’s Film Is Worth Celebrating
The commercial prospects for I Saw the TV Glow were never great, but it’s commendable that A24 backed Schoenbrun’s vision and helped to make it a reality. A24 continues to produce thought-provoking and auteur-driven projects that stand out from the crowd, and I Saw the TV Glow‘s filming style, themes, and story certainly helps it do just that.
After We’re All Going To The World’s Fair (2021), Schoenbrun remains a fascinating filmmaker operating in a unique space. Considering the commercial performance of Schoenbrun’s most recent effort, it’s likely that she will continue to operate at this smaller scale and budget level, but these types of films often end up being the most interesting. It remains to be seen what Schoenbrun will do next after I Saw the TV Glow, but more people are evidently discovering the film now that it’s on streaming.
Source: Reelgood
