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Red Riding Hood

Red Riding Hood

Who's afraid?

2011100 minPG-13Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films
Director
Catherine Hardwicke
Starring
Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman, Billy Burke, Shiloh Fernandez

Valerie is in love with a brooding outsider, Peter, but her parents have arranged for her to marry another man. Unwilling to lose each other, Valerie and Peter plan to run away together when Valerie's older sister is killed by a werewolf that prowls the dark forest surrounding their village. Panic grips the town as Valerie discovers that she has a unique connection to the beast--one that inexorably draws them together, making her both suspect ... and bait.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Red Riding Hood?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Red Riding Hood streaming on Cinemax via Prime Video and HBO Max and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Red Riding Hood?

Red Riding Hood earns 7 badges, led by Overhyped and Snowed-in watch.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Red Riding Hood worth watching?

Red Riding Hood's Midcredits score is the 24th percentile of all films, from 214K ratings across 6 sources. 33% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

24th percentile

Better received than 24% of films

45th percentile among Fantasy24th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)23rd
Approval (how many liked it)27th

53 /100

23rd percentile of all films

48th percentile among Fantasy25th percentile among 2010s

Critics 29 · Audience 54

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 5.7 — solid but not unanimous.

33% liked it

27th percentile of all films

49th percentile among Fantasy27th percentile among 2010s
33% rated it 7–1067% rated it 1–6

Critics 10% · Audience 39%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 0 wins / 5 noms overall

84th percentile

214K ratings across platforms

84th percentile among Fantasy85th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 16% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$42M
Opening weekend$14M
Domestic gross$38M
Worldwide gross$90M

Returned 2.1× its budget — 93rd percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A visually striking but narratively muddled teen-oriented horror romance that borrows heavily from the Twilight formula.

Fans praised

  • stunning cinematography and Gothic atmosphere
  • engaging mystery with unexpected werewolf reveal
  • strong performances by Amanda Seyfried and Gary Oldman

Detractors panned

  • lifeless love triangle and weak romantic chemistry
  • convoluted plot burdened by Twilight clichés
  • shoddy CGI werewolf and laughable dialogue

What stands out

Cinematography70

Lush, wintry Gothic visuals and striking color palette

AtmosphereDivisive65

Effective dark fairy-tale mood despite stage-bound sets

ActingDivisive45

Wooden leads; only Seyfried and Oldman praised; Fernandez widely panned

Plot and storyDivisive35

Muddled murder mystery with predictable werewolf twist

CharactersDivisive30

Underwritten love triangle; grandmother and hunter provide some depth

Effects and spectacle30

Subpar CGI werewolf; some fans enjoyed wolf design

OriginalityDivisive30

Generic Twilight retread; few fresh takes on the fairy tale

DialogueDivisive25

Clunky, cheesy lines that undermine tension

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 10 points higher than men.

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Under-30s

Under-30s scored it 13 points higher than over-30s.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Critics vs users 2 points apart
  • US vs non-US 5 points apart

Watch experience

What is Red Riding Hood like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Scary: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want to be scared.

It leaves you hopeful.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Scary.

The answer rests on this: Moods
DreadTenseMelancholicRomantic
Heaviest: throughout
Register
Romantic · 8% of filmsBrooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its Gothic romance and monster thriller with earnestness, though Gary Oldman's performance leans campy.
The rideA consistent atmosphere of dread and tension pervades, punctuated by brief romantic interludes, and the emotional weight remains high from start to finish.
StructureThe story unfolds chronologically from the opening attack to the final confrontation.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Hopeful.

HopefulBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe reunion of Valerie and Peter offers hope, but the cost and transformation leave a bittersweet residue.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Mystery
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7% (this title): Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% (this title) · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Mystery: A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered. · Investigation: A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).

7% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe story is driven by the question of which villager is the werewolf, with clues and red herrings leading to the revelation.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfIdentitySelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% (this title) · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9% (this title)
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Self

Identity · 14% of filmsFamily bondsDeception · 9% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeValerie must discover who she truly is when she learns she can communicate with the werewolf and that her father is the monster.
StanceThe film examines identity and the burden of a monstrous legacy without celebrating or condemning it; Valerie's journey is one of self‑discovery and choice.

The world

MedievalRuralDomesticWildernessHorror supernatural
Orchestral modernFolkForeground music · original score · Brian Reitzell, Alex Heffes
Settingthe isolated medieval village of Daggerhorn, surrounded by a dark snow‑covered forest
MusicA brooding, string‑driven score blended with folk elements that underscore the fairy‑tale and horror aspects.

Content guide

Is Red Riding Hood okay for kids?

PG-13

Red Riding Hood is rated PG-13: “Rated PG-13 for violence and creature terror, and some sensuality” (MPAA). As of August 19, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (70/100), sexual content at moderate (41/100), language at mild (27/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (38/100) and frightening material at intense (67/100). Overall it is heavier than 86% of PG-13-rated films.

Ratings in 17 other countries
  • UK12A
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • Ireland12A
  • JapanG
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil14
  • Czechia15+
  • FinlandK-13
  • Hungary16
  • Netherlands12
  • Poland16
  • PortugalM/12
  • RO12
  • Russia16+
  • Spain12
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 54% of all filmsHeavier than 86% of PG-13-rated films
Violence & Gore
Intense
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 91%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 76%
Profanity
Mild
light for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 15%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 77%
Frightening / Intense
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 86%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is violence and frightening material.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Red Riding Hood have?

MovieCove's classifier found 9 depicted content warnings in Red Riding Hood: Torture (severe), Animal cruelty (mild), Animal death (mild), plus 6 withheld here because they would spoil the plot. 1 more is mentioned only, in dialogue or backstory: Incest. Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

SevereTorture
MildAnimal crueltyAnimal death
MentionedIncest

Mentioned: referenced in dialogue or backstory, not shown in the story’s present.

Cast and crew

Who is in Red Riding Hood?

Cast

2 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Amanda Seyfried
as Valerie
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Gary Oldman
as Solomon
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Billy Burke
as Cesaire
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Shiloh Fernandez
as Peter
Max Irons
as Henry
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Julie Christie
as Grandmother
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Lukas Haas
as Father Auguste
Virginia Madsen
as Suzette
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Shauna Kain
as Roxanne
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Michael Hogan
as The Reeve

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Red Riding Hood?

Movies like Red Riding Hood include Ophelia (2018), Gretel & Hansel (2020) and Twilight (2008). Of the 12 closest matches, two are films by Catherine Hardwicke, and half are forbidden-love stories.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

7 of these 12 share its world: medieval. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Red Riding Hood?

2.2K other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: supernatural drama. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.