2025 has been a pretty solid year so far for movies, and while there are a handful already generating Oscar buzz, some unfortunately came and went without much conversation at all. In fact, October was one of the weakest months, with movies like “The Smashing Machine,” “Tron: Ares,” and “Regretting You” failing to generate healthy box office revenue. That even includes the chillingly fun “Black Phone 2.”
But movies that tend to flop in theaters usually find some success on streaming, and that’s the case with another October release, “After the Hunt.” Directed by Luca Guadagnino (“Challengers”) and starring Julia Roberts in the lead role, this psychological thriller seemed primed to be another hit for the director. Unfortunately, the movie grossed only around $9.3 million worldwide, and just over a month after its theatrical release it landed on Prime Video U.S.
As with many 2025 releases on streaming, viewers have flocked to it, and it’s already claimed the No. 3 spot in the streamer’s top 10 behind “Wicked.” If you missed it in theaters or are curious whether it’s worth streaming this week, here’s everything to know about “After the Hunt” now that it’s streaming on Prime Video.
What is ‘After the Hunt’ about?
“After the Hunt” centers on Alma Imhoff (Julia Roberts), a well-regarded philosophy professor at Yale , whose life begins to spiral after a shocking accusation: her star student, Maggie Resnick (Ayo Edebiri), accuses Hank Gibson (Andrew Garfield), Alma’s close friend and colleague, of sexual assault.
As word of the accusation ripples across campus, Alma is pulled between her longtime trust in Hank and her duty to support the student at the center of it. Meanwhile, a secret from Alma’s past, involving personal struggle and guilt, starts surfacing. Her husband, Frederik (Michael Stuhlbarg), and other university figures also become entangled in the fallout.
Should you stream ‘After the Hunt’ on Prime Video?
“After the Hunt,” like many of Guadagnino’s movies, is built on intimate visuals and deeply conflicted characters.
To be completely blunt (putting aside the ratings for now), “After the Hunt” may disappoint fans of Guadagnino’s work. His other popular movies like “Challengers,” “Bones and All,” and “Call Me by Your Name” prove why he has such a devoted following, and chances are you have heard of at least one. In comparison, “After the Hunt” falls short of the same level of writing and editing that audiences have come to expect.
“After the Hunt,” like many of Guadagnino’s movies, is built on intimate visuals and deeply conflicted characters. At the center are Alma, a tenured philosophy professor; Maggie, her gifted PhD student; and Hank, Alma’s close friend and colleague. These three are caught in a tense, shifting dynamic as Maggie’s confession sends them spiraling into uncertainty. Guadagnino makes it clear that the movie is a tense examination of power (particularly in academia) and the messy, complex relationship between truth and reputation.
The movie doesn’t always land its emotional punches quite as sharply as you might hope.
While the premise paves the way for some juicy conflict and raises prickly questions of power and belief, the movie doesn’t always land its emotional punches quite as sharply as you might hope. Focused more on theories than substance, the movie disappointingly overlooks the chance to explore its subject with the depth it deserves. Not to mention it ends up spelling everything out and resolving most of its drama long before its 2-hour runtime is over.
Of course, it might sound like “After the Hunt” is a miss after all that I’ve said, but there are some shining qualities that fans of the genre and Guadagnino's work may appreciate. The cast, especially Roberts and Edebiri, is excellent, pouring everything into their characters until the final second. Even with the muddled writing, their performances elevate the drama and give viewers something to talk about. It’s also worth noting that the dark academia aesthetic makes the visuals even more compelling.
To put it simply, “After the Hunt” is really only worth watching if you’re a fan of Guadagnino or are looking for a longer, more complex drama to stream this week. Even the Rotten Tomatoes scores won’t sway you much, with critics giving it 37% and audiences 38%. The site’s consensus reads: “After the Hunt doesn't lack for fine performances, especially from a standout Julia Roberts, but its coy follow-through on incendiary themes makes for an uncharacteristically toothless provocation from director Luca Guadagnino.”
Clearly, Prime Video viewers are finding something to enjoy, given its sudden rise in the top 10. I’m a firm believer that the big screen tends to amplify a movie’s strengths or its glaring flaws. In this case, “After the Hunt” might have worked better as a direct-to-streaming release, but going in with the right expectations will probably make this psychological thriller a more satisfying viewing experience at home.
Stream "After the Hunt" on Prime Video.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
More from Tom's Guide
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
