In recent years, horror films have made a significant breakthrough, with some even receiving accolades from the Academy. The Substance, starring Demi Moore, earned a nomination for Best Actress. The year 2026 continued this trend. YouTuber Markiplier's Iron Lung, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Sam Raimi's return to horror with Send Help, and Ready or Not 2: Here I Come are among the most successful horror examples of this year. Young talents in Hollywood are also making their mark in this genre; 20-year-old Kane Parsons' Backrooms broke records during its theatrical release.

However, the significant success of many horror films increases the likelihood of smaller productions being overlooked. Johannes Roberts' latest horror project, Primate, has fallen into just such a situation. The film, which was shown in theaters for a month at the beginning of the year, grossed only $41 million against a budget of $24 million. Featuring Academy Award nominee Troy Kotsur and Johnny Sequoyah, the film tells the story of a group of friends who encounter a terrifying situation during a holiday; they suddenly come face to face with Ben, an adopted chimpanzee who becomes increasingly violent.

Although Primate was a box office disappointment, it received positive reviews from critics. It earned a "certified fresh" score of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, and one critic described it as "one of the most entertaining horror films of the year." Jeff Ewing from Collider noted in his review, "Primate focuses on a bloody story about a chimpanzee that drives teenagers to lose their sanity. This level of focus makes Primate quite successful." Fortunately, the film achieved success by remaining on the most-watched list of the Paramount+ platform for over 100 days.