Florence Pugh's $87.6 Million R-Rated Psychological Thriller Deserves Its Global HBO Max Streaming Success

Florence Pugh is the star of a psychological thriller that is lighting up HBO Max's global charts, and this underrated movie deserves its streaming success after it got wrapped up in controversies. Pugh is one of the biggest stars in the world at the moment. The actress has been a part of several high-profile projects over the years, and 2026 repeats that.

Right now, fans of Pugh's hit filmography can watch her in theaters as Yelena Belova in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which has already passed the $2 billion mark at the box office to become one of the biggest movies of all time. After debuting in 2021's Black Widow, Pugh has played Yelena in multiple MCU projects. She will next be seen in Avengers: Doomsday.

That very same day, December 18, will also see Pugh show up in theaters as part of another of cinema's most popular franchises ever. That is due to how the actress will play a key role in Dune: Part Three as Princess Irulan Corrino. Before Pugh's major 2026 franchise release, fans of the actress can enjoy an underrated psychological thriller now on streaming.

Pugh, alongside Harry Styles and a star-studded cast, was part of Don't Worry Darling. The 2022 psychological thriller currently stands as the 9th most-watched movie on HBO Max, according to FlixPatrol, at the time of writing. Don't Worry Darling is trending in 22 countries. The film's streaming success on HBO Max could help many finally check out this underrated Pugh release.

Don't Worry Darling Is An Underrated Psychological Thriller

Sadly, for many viewers, when they first think of Don't Worry Darling, what comes to mind are the controversies surrounding Styles' role. Back when the R-rated psychological thriller was released, the actor's performance, his comment about how his favorite thing about Don't Worry Darling was that "it feels like a movie," and a debunked claim that he had spit on co-star Chris Pine at the film's Venice Film Festival premiere ended up capping how high the thriller could climb at the box office. Still, Don't Worry Darling ended up breaking even at the end of its run.

Don't Worry Darling had a reported budget of $35 million, so it needed to finish between $70 million and $87.5 million to break even. At an $87.6 million total, the R-rated thriller narrowly beat the higher end of that projection. With a solid 74% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie offers an intense ride on HBO Max for international viewers and on VOD in the United States. As Alice Warren-Chambers, Pugh delivers a charismatic and magnetic performance, with the golden image of a "nice housewife" suddenly realizing that there is something very wrong with her idyllic reality.

Don't Worry Darling is also filled with great performances. After all, with a cast that includes names like Olivia Wilde, Chris Pine, Gemma Chan, Sydney Chandler, and more, that was to be expected. Despite its controversies, this is a psychological thriller that successfully builds an uneasy atmosphere that culminates in a shocking reveal and a wild ending.

Don't Worry Darling's HBO Max Success Comes At The Perfect Time

Don't Worry Darling has become a global streaming hit on HBO Max right when the latest movie directed by Wilde, who both directed and starred in the psychological thriller, is playing in theaters. That would be The Invite, an A24 sex dramedy also starring Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton.

The Invite has brought in $46.4 million at the box office so far, with Wilde's latest movie holding a phenomenal 97% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 273 reviews, and a stellar 89% audience score. It is one of 2026's best movies so far. As such, for anyone who checks out The Invite in theaters, watching Florence Pugh's Don't Worry Darling on HBO Max comes as the perfect follow-up.