Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Horror thriller

Freaky (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Freaky (2020) movie poster

Freaky is a 2020 horror thriller directed by Christopher B. Landon, starring Kathryn Newton as Millie, Vince Vaughn and Dana Drori. It is inspired by Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers. It earned $18.1 million worldwide on a $5 million budget. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Horror Film Release at the Saturn Awards 2021. Critics gave it 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.

IMDb rating
6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
84%
worldwide gross
$18.1M
award nomination
1
Loading streaming availability…
Freaky (2020) movie poster
Released
Genres
Thriller , Horror , Comedy
Original language
English
Budget
$5M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Freaky About?

The premise of Freaky without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A teenage girl named Millie Kessler finds herself targeted by a notorious serial killer, The Butcher. In a bizarre turn of events, their bodies are switched, and Millie must race against time to return to her own form. Trapped in the killer's body, she has only 24 hours to outwit The Butcher and reverse the body swap, enlisting the help of friends Nyla, Joshua, and Booker along the way. Failure means being permanently stuck, and The Butcher threatens a bloody homecoming.

Freaky Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • body swap
  • serial killer
  • race against time
  • body switching
  • masked killer
  • slasher killer
  • violence
  • gore
  • body change
  • femme fatale
  • sawed in half
  • aztec pyramid
+38 more
  • love interest
  • dagger
  • high school football game
  • villain not really dead cliche
  • car won't start
  • murder of a teenage girl
  • bullying
  • widow
  • murder of a teenage boy
  • supernatural serial killer
  • friday the thirteenth
  • slasher
  • homecoming
  • team mascot
  • killed with a toilet bowl
  • high school
  • high school student
  • wearing a mask
  • widower
  • love poem
  • magical knife
  • waking up in strange surroundings
  • teenage girl in jeopardy
  • bully comeuppance
  • gender swap
  • body swap comedy
  • slasher comedy
  • sacrificial dagger
  • waking up in someone else's body
  • ritual sacrifice
  • child in adult body
  • death of father
  • banana pancake
  • psycho
  • school mascot
  • gay
  • closeted gay
  • aztec artifact
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

Freaky Cast & Characters

Kathryn Newton leads the cast as Millie, with Vince Vaughn as The Butcher and Dana Drori as Charlene Kessler. Directed by Christopher B. Landon; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Freaky

· 6 more
From the director

More from Christopher B. Landon

More films directed by Christopher B. Landon, best-rated first: Happy Death Day, We Have a Ghost, Happy Death Day 2U and Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse.

Full filmography
Ratings

Freaky Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Freaky 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 78/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in story & flow (65).

78 /100

Freaky Echo Score Breakdown

Freaky delivers a consistently entertaining blend of horror and comedy that largely satisfies slasher fans. The film’s brisk pacing and unique body-swap premise receive praise for injecting fresh energy into familiar genre conventions, though some viewers note that the narrative stalls midway and leans on cheap jump scares. Strong performances, particularly from Vince Vaughn, elevate the material despite a script that occasionally feels streamlined. Overall, this playful slasher stands out for its tonal balance and delivers a fun, if not wholly groundbreaking, experience.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of art and craft, the film demonstrates confident direction and efficient editing that recall classic slasher sensibilities. Director Christopher Landon’s staging of kills and integration of digital-era elements create a cohesive visual tone, while production design accentuates the contrast between suburban settings and gruesome violence. Some viewers observe reliance on familiar genre beats, but the overall presentation maintains clarity and momentum. The film’s technical execution supports its playful yet unsettling atmosphere.

  • Character & Emotion 75

    When it comes to character and emotion, Freaky is driven by Vince Vaughn’s committed performance and the youthful energy of its lead. The body-swap premise enables playful role-reversal chemistry, lending emotional stakes to the horror-comedy mix. While the script does not deeply explore character backstories, the rapport between central figures sustains engagement through humor and tension. The result is a solid showcase of performative contrasts that anchors the film’s appeal.

  • Story & Flow 65

    In terms of story and flow, Freaky launches with a brisk, inventive premise that subverts typical slasher narratives. Early scenes establish momentum with creative kills and comedic beats, yet the plot becomes more predictable as it progresses, relying on familiar jump scares and puns. The body-swap concept initially feels fresh but gradually loses its novelty, causing narrative lulls. Overall, the pacing is uneven, balancing engaging moments with a sense of diminishing returns.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    When it comes to the sensory experience, Freaky offers a vividly gruesome sound design and a sharp horror-comedy score that complements its tonal shifts. The visual style blends stylized gore with everyday settings, enhancing both the comedic and chilling elements. Audio cues heighten tension during kills while comedic timing remains precise. This layered sensory approach ensures that each scare and joke lands with clarity and impact.

  • Rewatch Factor 75

    In terms of rewatch value, Freaky provides sufficient entertainment for repeat viewings thanks to its memorable kills and humorous body-swap dynamics. The lively performances and genre twists reveal additional comedic details on subsequent watches, though some gory moments may limit broader appeal. While the narrative remains straightforward, the film’s playful tone and compact runtime encourage revisiting for fans of horror-comedy. Overall, it maintains a respectable replay factor.

Plot

Freaky Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Freaky from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

On Wednesday the 11th, a group of four teenagers meet a tragic fate at the hands of a serial killer known as the Blissfield Butcher (Vince Vaughn](/actor/vince-vaughn)). Initially dismissed as an urban legend, the Butcher’s gruesome spree begins when he steals a dagger referred to as EL DOLO (exact name yet to be confirmed) from the victims’ house. The next day, high school student Millie Kessler (Kathryn Newton) finds herself at the center of bullying at Blissfield Valley High School, targeted by the likes of cheerleader Ryler (Melissa Collazo) and their teacher, Mr. Fletcher (Alan Ruck](/actor/alan-ruck)). Millie’s solace comes from her supportive friends, Nyla ([eleste O’Connor) and Josh (Misha Osherovich), as well as her crush, Booker Strode (Uriah Shelton).

Full summary

The whole story of Freaky, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Freaky Box Office & Budget

Freaky grossed $18.1 million worldwide on a $5 million budget, 3.6 times what it cost. $9 million came from the US and Canada and $9 million (50%) from the rest of the world.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$18.1M

3.6× its budget

US & Canada
$9M
International
$9M
Budget
$5M
US & Canada 50% Rest of the world 50%
Awards

Freaky Awards & Nominations

Freaky earned 1 award nomination, including Best Horror Film Release at the Saturn Awards 2021.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

Freaky Trailers & Videos

6 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser, 3 clips and 1 featurette.

All 6 videos
Official Trailer
  • Teaser Freaky | Trailer | Own it Now on Digital, Blu-ray & DVD
  • Clip One by One Extended Preview
  • Clip Millie Becomes the Blissfield Butcher in 4K HDR
  • Clip The Butcher's Massacre - Extended Preview
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Freaky?

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What mysterious artifact does the Blissfield Butcher steal from the teenagers' home?

Cars

Cars in Freaky

43 cars on screen, including the 2004 Chevrolet Aveo and the 2005 Ford Crown Victoria.

All 43 cars
  • 2004 Chevrolet Aveo in Freaky 2004 Chevrolet Aveo Important role
  • 2005 Ford Crown Victoria in Freaky 2005 Ford Crown Victoria Minor role
  • 2008 Ford E-Series in Freaky 2008 Ford E-Series Minor role
  • 2017 Ford Fusion in Freaky 2017 Ford Fusion Minor role

Seen Freaky?

FAQ

Freaky FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Freaky, each answered in a sentence.

When was Freaky released?

Freaky was released on November 13, 2020.

Who directed Freaky?

Freaky was directed by Christopher B. Landon.

More films by Christopher B. Landon

Who is in the cast of Freaky?

Freaky stars Kathryn Newton as Millie, Vince Vaughn as The Butcher and Dana Drori as Charlene Kessler, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Freaky make at the box office?

Freaky grossed $18.1 million worldwide ($9 million domestic, $9 million international) on a budget of $5 million.

How is Freaky rated?

Freaky has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, 67 on Metacritic and 66% on TMDB.

Was Freaky nominated for any awards?

Freaky received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

Does Freaky have a post-credit scene?

No. Freaky has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app