The Watchers: Release date, cast, & Everything we know about the Dakota Fanning film

The Watchers, directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan and starring Dakota Fanning, invites viewers into a chilling world of suspense and mystery. Based on the 2021 gothic horror novel by A.M. Shine, the film follows Mina, a 28-year-old artist who becomes trapped in a remote forest in western Ireland alongside three strangers. As night falls, they realize they're being watched and stalked by unseen creatures, creating an atmosphere of terror and intrigue that leaves audiences on the edge of their seats.

Despite its promising premise, The Watchers faced a lackluster theatrical release, grossing under $33 million after debuting in June. Now, it’s gearing up for a second chance on streaming, with Warner Bros. announcing that the film will be available exclusively on Max. This move offers fans a chance to experience the horror at home, especially following its recent physical media release.

In this article, we'll explore everything you need to know about The Watchers, including plot details, cast insights, and the latest updates. Stay tuned as we continuously refresh this space with the newest information to keep you captivated by this intriguing tale!

Release date & Where to Watch

The Watchers was released exclusively in theaters on Friday, June 7, 2024, in the US and UK, marking it as one of the early entries in the 2024 summer blockbuster lineup. In the UK and Ireland, the film was titled The Watched. The movie, rated PG-13 for violence, terror, and some thematic elements, will be available for streaming on Max starting Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

To watch from home, you'll need a subscription to the platform. Prices start at $9.99 per month for the ad-supported version, but you can stream the movie for free on Max after logging in with your TV provider credentials.

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How to Watch The Watchers Online from Anywhere

You can watch The Watchers on Max in the US, but if you're traveling outside the country, geo-restrictions might block your access. To evade these limitations, use a dependable VPN to unlock Max and stream the movie online as if you're still at home.

While selecting the best VPN, it's crucial to choose one that offers fast, secure connections. For this, NordVPN stands out as an excellent choice, with its live chat support, virtual servers for added flexibility, and obfuscation features to overcome even the toughest restrictions. 

It also provides double encryption for extra security and dedicated IPs if you have specific needs. With industry-leading VPN protocols and AES-256 encryption, NordVPN ensures your online activities remain private and protected, making it the perfect tool to unlock Max and enjoy The Watchers wherever you are.

Plot

The Watchers follows Mina, a 28-year-old artist portrayed by Fanning, who becomes stranded in a vast, untouched forest in western Ireland. Seeking shelter, she stumbles upon a concrete bunker, where she finds herself trapped with three terrified strangers. Each night, mysterious and monstrous underground creatures emerge from the forest, watching and stalking them from behind a glass wall, as if the four strangers are on display in a zoo. Mina has no idea what these creatures want or what will happen if anyone fails to reach the bunker before nightfall. 

With a unique combination of elements reminiscent of Cabin in the Woods and Lost, this suspenseful tale, adapted by Ishana Shyamalan from A.M. Shine's novel, promises a gripping narrative.

Cast

• Dakota Fanning (I Am Sam, The Equalizer 3, Ripley) as Mina
• Georgina Campbell (Barbarian, Suspicion) as Ciara
• Oliver Finnegan (Outlander, Creeped Out) as Daniel
• Olwen Fouéré (The Northman, The Tourist) as Madeline
• Alistair Brammer (Les Misérables) as John
• Hannah Howland (Arthur's Whisky) as Chloe/Young Mina
• Siobhan Hewlett (Sherlock) as Mina's mother/Siobhán Hewlett
• Anthony Morris (Game of Thrones) as Burke
• Jacob Greenway (Father Brown) as Jordan
• Shane O'Regan (The Shamrock Spitfire) as Collin
• John Lynch as Kilmartin
• Emily Dargan as Young Lucy
• Joel Figueroa as Darwin (voice)
• Thabile Michelle Hlongwane as Newscaster/Michelle Hlongwane
• Jim Tighe as Bus Driver
• Zarima McDermott as University Student
• Morgan Bailey-Rocks as Younger Boy
• Christian Bailey-Rocks as Older Brother
• Eabha Connolly as Little Girl/Éabha Connolly

Trailer

Warner Bros. Pictures released the official teaser trailer for The Watchers. While the mysterious creatures themselves haven't been fully revealed, the 2-minute teaser gives you a glimpse of the eerie world they inhabit. If you've ever kept pets in a glass tank—like fish, hamsters, or an ant farm—you'll soon understand what it feels like to be watched for entertainment.

You can check out another trailer for the horror movie right here.

How did The Watchers do in Theaters?

While Shine's book was well-received, Ishana Shyamalan's film adaptation of The Watchers proved more divisive. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently holds a low score of 32%, with critics noting that despite Shyamalan's skill in creating a tense horror atmosphere and strong performances from Elle Fanning and the cast, the film falls short in delivering narrative excitement and momentum. The audience score, known as the Popcornmeter, is slightly better at 52% but still reflects mixed reactions.

This lukewarm reception carried over to the box office, where The Watchers grossed only $33 million worldwide against a $30 million budget. Although the film's ending left some intriguing questions that could have generated word-of-mouth buzz, it wasn’t enough to propel it to commercial success.

In today's competitive theatrical landscape, where audiences are selective about what they watch in cinemas, The Watchers faced an uphill battle, particularly given its budget. However, there’s potential for the film to find a larger audience on streaming platforms, where viewers who skipped the theatrical release may decide to watch it at home. 

Where is The Watchers Filmed?

Filming for The Watchers took place across Dublin, Wicklow, and Galway in Ireland during July 2023, wrapping up in September 2023. Midway through production, the project received an interim agreement allowing it to continue shooting despite the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.

Who is Directing The Watchers?

Ishana Shyamalan, daughter of renowned filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, is directing The Watchers. This marks her feature directorial debut, but she already has significant experience, having directed and written multiple episodes of the Apple TV+ series Servant, where she also served as a producer. Her work on Servant showcases her directorial skills, particularly in episodes like “Pizza” and “Josephine” in season two, “Hive” and “Mama” in season three, and “Séance” and “Myth” in the fourth season. 

M. Night Shyamalan, Ashwin Rajan, and Nimitt Mankad are producing The Watchers under Blinding Edge Pictures, with Jo Homewood and Stephen Dembitzer as executive producers.