Death of a Unicorn (2025): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
Death of a Unicorn is a 2025 comedy thriller directed by Alex Scharfman, starring Paul Rudd as Elliot, Jenna Ortega and Richard E. Grant. It runs 1 hour 44 minutes and earned $16.5 million worldwide on a $15 million budget. Critics gave it 52% on Rotten Tomatoes and 51 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 44m (104 min)
- Director
- Alex Scharfman
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- A24
- Budget
- $15M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Death of a Unicorn About?
The premise of Death of a Unicorn without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
While traveling to a weekend retreat, a father and daughter accidentally kill a unicorn. Their destination is a secluded gathering hosted by the father’s wealthy boss, who intends to harness the unicorn’s extraordinary healing abilities.
Death of a Unicorn Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- unicorn
- mythical creature
- dark comedy
- monster horror
- creature
- fairy tale creature in real world
- mythological character in real world
- father daughter relationship
- scientists
- rich family
- hitting animal with car
- father
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- daughter
- black comedy
- death in title
- dark fantasy
- evil unicorn
- unicorn horn
- unicorn hunting
- unicorn monster
- stabbed by a unicorn
- killer unicorn
- dead mother
- dead wife
- man twiddles his wedding ring
- photos
- photograph
- on the road
- family business
- blood magic
- blood
- airplane
- killing an animal
- girl listens to music on headphones
- youth
- death
- female protagonist
- four word title
- sandwich
- son tells mother to shut up
- husband wife relationship
- snoring
- mother son relationship
- rapid healing
- cancer
- father son relationship
- x ray
- calling
- man wears glasses
- eye sight
Death of a Unicorn Cast & Characters
Paul Rudd leads the cast as Elliot, with Jenna Ortega as Ridley and Richard E. Grant as Odell. Directed by Alex Scharfman; 17 actors are credited in all.
- Director Alex Scharfman
-
Paul Rudd as Elliot -
Jenna Ortega as Ridley -
Richard E. Grant as Odell -
Téa Leoni as Belinda
Also Starring in Death of a Unicorn
· 13 more- Will Poulter Shepard
- Jessica Hynes Shaw
- Steve Park Dr. Song
- Sunita Mani Dr. Bhatia
- Kathryn Erbe Tapestry Video Narrator
- David Pasquesi Pilot
- Anthony Carrigan Griff
- Tasha Lawrence Police Officer
- Christine Grace Szarko Police Officer
- Nick Wittman Mercenary #1
- Narantsogt Tsogtsaikhan Mercenary #3
- Denise Delgado Ridley's Mom
- Max Draskoczi Mercenary #2
Death of a Unicorn Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Death of a Unicorn 52% on Rotten Tomatoes and 51 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 40/100, strongest in art & craft (55) and weakest in sensory experience (30).
Death of a Unicorn Echo Score Breakdown
Death of a Unicorn presents an ambitious blend of horror comedy and fantasy that ultimately feels uneven. The film’s production design and early pacing generate occasional intrigue, but an inconsistent narrative and flat character development undermine sustained engagement. Visual effects are frequently criticized for their low-budget appearance, and the satirical message rarely gains depth. While there are moments of genuine quirk and charm, they are too scattered to establish lasting impact or a strong overall impression.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 55
In terms of art and craft, the film exhibits sporadic creativity alongside evident budget constraints. Production design often impresses with its varied set pieces and atmospheric touches. However, direction lacks consistent cohesion, and editing transitions can feel jarring. The overall visual style hints at ambition but is undermined by uneven execution across scenes.
- Character & Emotion 45
When it comes to character and emotion, the cast demonstrates sincerity but seldom achieves depth. Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd offer moments of engagement, and occasional supporting performances add interest. Yet many characters remain underwritten, leaving emotional beats unearned. Chemistry fluctuates, and overall, the character work feels serviceable but rarely resonant or fully developed.
- Story & Flow 35
Plot coherence and pacing prove uneven throughout the film. Early sequences establish an intriguing premise and brisk momentum, but the narrative soon fragments into predictable beats and repetitive commentary. The satirical themes lack fresh insight, and tonal shifts disrupt engagement. Although pockets of originality emerge, the overall flow feels disjointed, preventing sustained immersion in the story.
- Sensory Experience 30
When considering sensory experience, the film’s creature effects and CGI often fail to integrate convincingly, drawing attention for their low-budget appearance. Soundtrack and design deliver occasional moments of atmosphere, but these are sparse. Visual cohesion wavers between engaging B-movie charm and distraction by unconvincing effects. Overall, the sensory elements undercut the intended immersive experience.
- Rewatch Factor 40
In terms of rewatch factor, the film offers limited replay value once its initial novelty fades. A few moments of quirk and ambition may appeal on a second viewing, but the uneven narrative and unmemorable character arcs reduce incentive to revisit. Overall, the movie struggles to establish lasting appeal beyond its first watch.
-
IMDb 5.8 /10
57179 votes
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 52% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 76%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 51 Metascore
User score 5.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 64% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.7 /5
401648 ratings
See on Letterboxd
Death of a Unicorn Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Death of a Unicorn from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Elliot Kintner, portrayed by Paul Rudd, and his teenage daughter Ridley, played by Jenna Ortega, embark on a trip to the opulent estate of Elliot’s employer, Odell Leopold, represented by Richard E. Grant. The journey begins with Elliot battling an allergic reaction, while Ridley appears unfazed and disengaged from the travel experience.
As fate would have it, their road trip takes a strange turn when they accidentally impact a baby unicorn with their vehicle. Stopping to investigate, Ridley is drawn to the glowing horn of the unicorn. In a surreal twist, the horn transports her to a psychedelic world filled with mind-boggling visuals. However, the moment is cut short as Elliot arrives, tragically determined to end the creature’s suffering with a tire iron.
Full summary
The whole story of Death of a Unicorn, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Death of a Unicorn Box Office & Budget
Death of a Unicorn grossed $16.5 million worldwide on a $15 million budget, 1.1 times what it cost. $12.9 million came from the US and Canada and $3.6 million (22%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$16.5M
1.1× its budget
- US & Canada
- $12.9M
- International
- $3.6M
- Budget
- $15M
Death of a Unicorn Trailers & Videos
15 videos: 3 trailers, 9 teasers and 3 clips.
- Trailer Trailer
- Trailer Trailer #2
- Teaser Official Promo
- Teaser Official Featurette
How Well Do You Know Death of a Unicorn?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What event prompts Elliot and Ridley's trip to the Leopold estate?
Death of a Unicorn Also Known As
26 alternative titles, including “Death of a Unicorne” and “Unikorn'un Ölümü”.
- Also known as
-
- Death of a Unicorne
- Unikorn'un Ölümü
- 独角兽之死
- Moartea unui Unicorn
- Смерть единорога
- Ükssarviku surm
- La Muerte De Un Unicornio
- Śmierć jednorożca
- 데스 오브 유니콘
- Cái Chết Của Kỳ Lân
- A Morte de um Unicórnio
- La Mort D'une Licorne
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- מותו של חד קרן
- مرگ یک تک شاخ
- Смерть єдинорога
- Vienaragio mirtis
- Смъртта на еднорога
- Taybuynuz atın ölümü
- Vienradža nāve
- Smrt jednorožce
- Moartea unui Inorog
- 獨角獸之死
- موت وحيد القرن
- เดธ ออฟ อะ ยูนิคอร์น
- Smrt jednoroga
- Смрт једнорога, რქაეულის სიკვდილი
Seen Death of a Unicorn?
Movies Like Death of a Unicorn
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Little Unicorn, Killer Unicorn and Voyage of the Unicorn.
Articles About Death of a Unicorn
3 articles about Death of a Unicorn. The latest: “Death of a Unicorn (2025) Explained: The Ending, Unicorn Powers & The Deeper Meaning”.
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Explained -
OpinionsDeath of a Unicorn (2025): A Horror-Comedy That Revels in Its Own Absurdity
Death of a Unicorn (2025) opinions: the off-kilter horror-comedy that merges mythological unicorns, corporate greed and B-movie gore. 3 min read -
ReviewsDeath of a Unicorn (2025) Review: Horns, Havoc, and the High Price of Myth
A darkly funny and savage take on corporate greed and family ties, Death of a Unicorn (2025) pits hapless humans against nature’s most storied creature—and no one escapes unscathed. 6 min read
Death of a Unicorn FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Death of a Unicorn, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Death of a Unicorn?
Death of a Unicorn runs 1 hour 44 minutes (104 minutes).
When was Death of a Unicorn released?
Death of a Unicorn was released on March 28, 2025.
Who directed Death of a Unicorn?
Death of a Unicorn was directed by Alex Scharfman.
Who is in the cast of Death of a Unicorn?
Death of a Unicorn stars Paul Rudd as Elliot, Jenna Ortega as Ridley and Richard E. Grant as Odell, among 17 credited actors.
How much did Death of a Unicorn make at the box office?
Death of a Unicorn grossed $16.5 million worldwide ($12.9 million domestic, $3.6 million international) on a budget of $15 million.
How is Death of a Unicorn rated?
Death of a Unicorn has 5.8/10 on IMDb, 52% on Rotten Tomatoes, 51 on Metacritic and 64% on TMDB.
Does Death of a Unicorn have a post-credit scene?
No. Death of a Unicorn has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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