Nicolas Cage’s ‘Arcadian’ Comes to Hulu on January 24

Hulu is starting off 2025 strong as the streaming platform expands its ever-growing catalog with Nicolas Cage’s post-apocalyptic horror film Arcadian. The movie, which initially premiered at South by Southwest (SXSW) in March 2024, followed by a wide release in April, will land on Hulu on Jan. 24 this year. At the time of its premiere, the movie received mostly positive reviews, praising the film as a solid entry in Cage’s extensive filmography. Now, Arcadian will be added to the handful of Nicolas Cage films already available on the streaming service.

Benjamin Brewer directed Arcadian, which isn’t the filmmaker’s first collaboration with Cage. He previously worked with the famed actor on the 2016 film The Trust, which also starred Elijah Wood. Long-time collaborator Michael Nilon also wrote Arcadian. The film centers on Paul (Cage), a father who must protect his twin teenage sons, Joseph (Jaeden Martell) and Thomas (Maxwell Jenkins), from ferocious and mysterious creatures. Featuring themes of fatherhood and survival, it’s a chilling movie that fans of Cage or post-apocalyptic sci-fi will want to check out. However, it’s not for the faint of heart.

Arcadian received praise for its tension, despite some tired and overused story beats. Movieweb’s own review praised it as a commendable and mostly inspired horror thriller. Meanwhile, other critics have praised the movie’s inventive monster design and how emotional performances elevate the stereotypical story beats expected from this genre. However, there have also been criticisms regarding Arcadian’s third act. Still, the film is mostly intriguing because of Cage’s held-back performance, as it doesn’t necessarily have the crazed Cage moments that fans of the actor have come to expect from him.

‘Arcadian’ Joins a Long List of Nicolas Cage Films on Hulu

Come Jan. 24, Arcadian will be part of a vast catalog of Nicolas Cage films available on Hulu. Each is so entirely different from the others that it almost inspires a Cage film festival. Other movies starring the actor that are streaming on Hulu include the 2023 psychological thriller Sympathy for the Devil, co-starring Joel Kinnaman, the 2021 animatronic horror movie Willy’s Wonderland, the 2023 Western flick The Old Way, and the action comedy The Retirement Plan.

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Arcadian’s entry onto Hulu adds another genre to the impressive collection of Cage films available. It is unique from those other titles thanks to its familial dynamics and grotesque creatures, which also have fascinating designs. Although the photophobic creatures are among the many cliché monster movie tropes, their creepy designs and surreal mannerisms make them as memorable as they are in the film. There is plenty to enjoy with Arcadian, even if it doesn’t showcase Cage’s usual eccentricities.

Overall, there are many reasons to check out Arcadian when the movie drops on Hulu on Jan. 24. Whether you’re a fan of Cage, the sci-fi horror genre, or both, the 2024 movie is a worthy addition to the streaming service. The opportunity for Arcadian to be experienced by a much wider audience is thrilling news, and if the film’s intensity proves too much, there are also more lighthearted classics like Con-Air to check out.

Release Date

April 12, 2024

Director

Benjamin Brewer

Runtime

92 Minutes

Cast

Nicolas Cage
, Sadie Soverall
, Jaeden Martell
, Maxwell Jenkins
, Joe Dixon
, Samantha Coughlan
, Daire McMahon
, Joel Gillman

Main Genre

Horror