Y2K: Rachel Zegler’s Box Office Bomb Turns Global Streaming Hit on HBO Max

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Despite a lackluster run in theaters, Rachel Zegler’s 2024 horror comedy is proving popular on HBO Max. The film, titled Y2K, is currently a top 10 hit in 16 countries, even reaching number three in Haiti.

The recent success stands in stark contrast to the performance of Y2K. The movie only earned $4.5 million despite costing $15 million to make, meaning it failed to make a profit at the box office.

Critics had a mixed reaction to the movie Y2K. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 42% rating, acknowledging its bold vision but noting that it wasn’t consistently funny. Audience scores on Popcornmeter were slightly higher, at 52% positive, but still indicated a generally lukewarm reception.

The reviewer found the film extremely disappointing and criticized it for not developing its interesting initial idea in a meaningful way.

To defeat the new, dangerous villain, the unlikely team needs to figure out who they are as individuals, beyond the typical high school cliques and trends. The initial fun of recognizing references to things like Eric Koston or even mispronounced celebrity names quickly fades, and the film’s focus on the year 2000 starts to feel stale. It becomes clear this isn’t a movie for adults; it relies heavily on name-dropping without ever exploring what any of it means. Ultimately, the film has a lot of pop culture jokes but lacks real substance.

Y2K Is a Global Streaming Hit After Bombing at the Box Office

The movie Y2K, set in 1999, centers around two unpopular high school students who sneak into a New Year’s Eve party. As midnight approaches, things take a chaotic turn when technology suddenly comes to life and begins attacking people.

Kyle Mooney, known for his work on Saturday Night Live, directed and co-wrote the screenplay for Y2K with Evan Winter. The film features a cast including Rachel Zegler, Jaeden Martell, Julian Dennison, The Kid LAROI, Fred Durst, Lachlan Watson, Daniel Zolghadri, Mason Gooding, Lauren Balone, and Eduardo Franco.

After starting her career with a role in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 film West Side Story, she went on to appear in the superhero movie Shazam! Fury of the Gods and the Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Despite her success in Y2K, her next few films didn’t fare as well. Following a voice acting role in the animated Netflix film Spellbound, Zegler starred in a leading role that unfortunately failed to attract audiences in theaters.

Starting in 2024, Rachel Zegler has been focusing more on theater. She made her Broadway debut in a leading role in Romeo + Juliet, and in 2025, she took the role of Eva Perón in London’s West End production of Evita. She’s continuing in the West End with a production of The Last Five Years.

Y2K is available to stream now on HBO Max

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2026-01-28 07:22