Horror maestro Alexandre Aja is officially keeping his feet soaked in aquatic nightmare fuel. Between gearing up for Netflix’s Under Paris 2 and preparing to helm the long-awaited sequel to his sleeper hit Crawl, Aja is once again proving that water is the ultimate death trap. This time, however, the relentless apex predators pack their bags and take a massive bite out of the Big Apple. And it’s got a release date!
A Concrete Jungle Turned Submerged Feeding Ground
Leaving behind Florida’s hurricane-battered swamps, Crawl 2 trades suburban crawlspaces for a flooded New York City. Specific plot details remain tucked below the waterline. But the urban shift instantly taps into the legendary myth of alligators lurking in the NYC sewer system. Navigating rising floodwaters trapped inside skyscraper canyons, while dodging hungry gators, elevates the franchise’s signature claustrophobic suspense into widespread urban chaos.
Fresh Prey and Horror Royalty Behind the Camera
A brand-new setting demands a fresh batch of survivors to throw into the deep end. Mason Gooding (Scream, Heart Eyes) and Emily Rudd (Fear Street trilogy) have officially signed on to lead the new nightmare. Andrew Deutschman and Jason Pagan (Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension) co-wrote the screenplay alongside Aja and his longtime collaborator Gregory Levasseur. Legendary filmmaker Sam Raimi returns to produce alongside Craig Flores and Aja. Levasseur and Zainab Azizi are serving as executive producers.
Building on a $91 Million Creature-Feature Juggernaut
The original 2019 feature pitted Kaya Scodelario and Barry Pepper against a Category 5 storm and a pack of hungry reptiles. Released during a summer box office dominated by Avengers: Endgame, The Lion King, and Spider-Man. However, Crawl proved to be a massive hit. Produced on a $15 million budget, the film grossed over $91 million worldwide. It also earned an 84% positive score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Summer 2027 Release Date Confirmed
Deadline has officially confirmed that Crawl 2 will hit theaters on July 16, 2027. The mid-July release slot mirrors the 2019 original, which debuted on July 12. With an exciting core cast, visionary genre royalty at the helm, and New York City transformed into an all-you-can-eat buffet, Crawl 2 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated creature features on the horizon.
Relive the Action
While the premiere of Crawl 2 will leave fans waiting for a while, you can relive the action and scares of Crawl, which we gave high praise in its review, now on Prime Video, Apple TV, and Kanopy. Here’s a look back at the trailer.
