Free to stream but still hard to watch, the 2005 remake of The Fog has unexpectedly become a streaming hit.
The Fog Remake Sees New Life on Tubi
The 2005 remake of The Fog, directed by Rupert Wainwright, recently landed on the free streaming platform Tubi. Despite a dismal 5% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s drawing in viewers. However, many agree that even as a free movie, it’s tough to sit through, especially when compared to John Carpenter’s beloved 1980 original.
Many horror movies are eventually remade, with Hollywood giving iconic films a fresh coat of paint every 20–30 years. Some of these remakes have captured audiences, but The Fog remake is often cited as one of the worst. Still, platforms like Tubi, Pluto TV, and Freevee have become popular for resurfacing forgotten movies, both the beloved and the poorly received.
A Classic Horror That Didn’t Need a Remake
The original The Fog, directed by John Carpenter and starring Jamie Lee Curtis, told a chilling tale of a coastal town haunted by ghosts within a supernatural fog. Carpenter’s original had a suspenseful, eerie atmosphere, relying on scares that built slowly and left viewers feeling truly haunted. With a respectable 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the 1980 version became a favorite among horror fans and built a cult following over the years.
In contrast, the 2005 remake, which starred Tom Welling, Maggie Grace, and Selma Blair, struggled to bring anything fresh or memorable. Critics and audiences found it “hollow” and “uninspired,” with heavy CGI effects that took away any real tension. With only a 4% critic rating and 19% audience rating, it’s no wonder the remake quickly faded from most people’s memories.
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A Box Office Disappointment
While the remake didn’t entirely bomb at the box office, its $18 million budget was considerably higher than Carpenter’s $1.1 million original, which earned over 20 times its cost. The 2005 film avoided total financial failure but never gained the dedicated fanbase or rewatchability of its predecessor. Once it left theaters, it mostly vanished, showing up occasionally on cable or low-tier streaming services.
A Second Chance on Streaming?
Even with its poor reputation, The Fog remake has captured new attention on Tubi. Free streaming tends to attract curious viewers, even if just to see how bad a notorious film really is. While reviews haven’t improved with time, the ease of access on Tubi might help it continue drawing in viewers for a while.
Is it enough to make this remake a horror classic? Probably not. But thanks to Tubi, The Fog remake is having its unexpected moment in the spotlight, and for a while, it might just keep finding new, unsuspecting viewers looking for a free horror flick.