Despite receiving overwhelmingly negative reviews from both critics and audiences, the original Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey movie surprisingly managed to gain a dedicated fanbase. The film’s inexplicable popularity on Peacock, combined with its loyal following, inspired the creation of a sequel, which many would regard as a hasty response to the initial success. The sequel, also titled Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2, follows a similar formula to its predecessor, featuring an all-star cast and, although significantly better received than its predecessor, still maintains a mediocre score of 46% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film’s director, Rhys Frake-Waterfield, made his directorial debut in 2022 with The Area 51 Incident and has since become a go-to director for low-budget horror films. His collaboration with writer Matt Leslie, who made his feature writing debut in 2018 with Summer of 84, has resulted in a film that is more polished and well-crafted than its predecessor.
Despite the film’s positive reception, it is still far from being considered a good film by most standards. However, its popularity on Peacock serves as a testament to the power of user-generated content and the ability of streaming platforms to give a voice to even the most obscure and niche films. The platform’s ability to attract a diverse range of audiences with its diverse selection of films has made it a go-to destination for fans of all genres.
The popularity of Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 on Peacock is a reflection of the platform’s success in providing a home for niche films, which often fly under the radar in traditional cinemas. Alongside Winnie-the-Pooh, other popular movies on Peacock include the first two installments of Adam Sander’s Hotel Transylvania franchise, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt’s stunt team-up movie, The Fall Guy. The platform’s eclectic mix of films has allowed it to attract a devoted following, making it a staple for fans of all genres.