By: Renae Richardson
Filmmakers are strategically tapping into childhood nightmares with full force. As if the subversion of fairytales weren’t enough, make way for board games. Director James Nunn is bringing his terror-filled concept to horror viewers, introducing them to one monstrous hippo based on the classic game Hungry Hungry Hippos.
Nostalgia Meets Nightmare
Children who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s are relishing the fact that their childhood is replaying across theaters worldwide—from beloved products to feature films. Remakes, adaptations, revisions, conversions, and sequels dominate the landscape. Yet a horrifying thriller based on the board game Hungry Hungry Hippos was likely the furthest thing from anyone’s imagination.
Release Details Announced
Hungry, created and directed by Nunn, now has an official release date. According to Coming Soon.net,
“The survival thriller movie will be available to rent or own on digital platforms starting on June 23, 2026.”
The film explores what happens when tourists who paid for one experience receive something entirely different—and deadly.
A Deadly Detour
Hungry (2026). Image source: Exponenta
Per the official synopsis, the tourists have booked a trip to observe alligators in the wild. As Coming Soon.net continues,
“Lured off the beaten path by the promise of an exclusive adventure, they soon find themselves fighting for survival against a ravenous hippopotamus lurking beneath the bayou’s murky waters.”
What begins as an exotic excursion quickly transforms into a fight for survival against nature’s most unexpected predator.
The Director Behind the Terror
Nunn began his career in film in the mid-2000s. His first full-length studio feature, Green Street 3: Never Back Down, was released in 2012. He has continued to build his reputation in the industry. As Revolution Talent notes,
“His skills in elevating genre movies have cemented him as a rising star in action/thriller cinema.”
Hungry is positioned as exactly that—a nightmarish thriller designed to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
First Look: Official Trailer Released
An official trailer has been released with the hopes of drumming up a voracious appetite for something offbeat and unsettling—in the best possible way. The cast comprises Madison Davenport, Tracey Bonner, Michel Curiel, Sam Coughlin, Joaquim de Almeida, and River Codack.
A New Entry in the Creature Feature Canon
There is no doubt that a niche audience exists for this type of fare. The film brings to mind other creature features such as Anaconda, Lake Placid, and Crawl, to name a few. The distinguishing difference lies in its unlikely antagonist—a hippo—and its foundation upon a game many continue to cherish, if for nothing more than its nostalgic value.
What Comes Next?
The prevailing question naturally follows: How many more films of this ilk will emerge? Might we see horror adaptations of “Candy Land,” “Sorry!” or “Chutes and Ladders”? It remains very much possible—especially if the film manages to win the hearts of viewers the way films based on the “Clue” (IP) intellectual property have. The board game horror genre may only be getting started.