Death of a Unicorn (2025)

Paul Rudd hits a unicorn with his car on the way to his boss’s mountain estate, and somehow that’s the subtle part of Death of a Unicorn. He plays Elliot, a widowed lawyer who brings his teenage daughter Ridley along to impress the billionaire Leopold family. Once the Leopolds learn the creature’s horn can heal almost anything, they start planning a business, and Ridley, played by Jenna Ortega, seems to be the only one who has read the old unicorn legends. The satire about greedy rich people is painted on with a roller. Richard E. Grant, Téa Leoni and Will Poulter play the Leopolds with big, broad fun. The creature effects look cheap, and the tone lurches between family comedy and monster movie. Rudd and Ortega have a real father-daughter rapport, which keeps it watchable. It made $16.5 million worldwide on a reported $15M. A 4.8 because a premise this wild deserved a sharper movie. $3,803 says the next glittery unicorn balloon you spot at a kid’s party makes you a little nervous for everyone there.

What works: Rudd and Ortega have a warm, believable father-daughter rapport, and the rich-family cast plays the greed broadly and with gusto.

What doesn’t: The class satire is way too on the nose, the tone lurches around, and the digital creature effects look unconvincing.

Who it’s for: Fans of Rudd and Ortega who like their creature features silly and don’t mind a mess.