5 Things To Know About Screamboat, The Steamboat Willie Horror Movie, Before Watching It

Before watching the Steamboat Willie horror movie Screamboat, you might want to know these five details. Steamboat Willie is one of Disney’s most prized Mickey Mouse shorts, offering the earliest-released version of the character. However, after 95 years under copyright, the character and short went into the public domain. Just one day later, filmmaker Steven LaMorte announced that he planned to release a movie called Screamboat, with Matthew Garcia-Dunn as co-writer.

The movie features a horror version of the titular Disney character as a murderous killer aboard a New York City ferry. Since then, excitement has increased for the film, which features the Art the Clown actor as Steamboat Willie. Though it was initially planned for a January 2025 release, Screamboat will finally hit theaters on April 4, 2025. If you plan to make a trip to the movie theater for the horror-comedy film, these five details will prepare you for what to expect.

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Screamboat Is From The Same Distribution Company As Terrifier & Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare

The Other Movies From Iconic Events Releasing Set Expectations For Screamboat

The distribution company responsible for bringing Screamboat to the big screens is Iconic Events Releasing, a newer company that has quickly gained a reputation for putting out primarily edgy horror films that don’t get an MPA rating. Their past films include Terrifier 2, Terrifier 3, Cinderella’s Revenge, and Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare – all of which are known for their taboo horror.

Based on this alone, Screamboat viewers can expect immense gore and blood that will push the limits of acceptability. Moreover, early reviews have compared the kills in Screamboat to those of Art the Clown from the Terrifier franchise in terms of goriness, shock factor, and creativity.

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Screamboat Is Not Rated By The MPA

Most Theaters Will Enforce Rated-R Rules For Screamboat

Screamboat follows the recent trend of theatrically released horror movies choosing not to get rated by the MPA. By choosing to forgo rating, these films aren’t limited in regard to the violence and gore they can include. While R-movies don’t have many limitations, the MPA can still give an NC-17 rating for extreme violence or nudity if they deem it intrinsically adult. One particular scene in Screamboat would’ve probably pushed the movie over the line. Unfortunately, theaters rarely screen NC-17 movies, so it’s better to go unrated.

Screamboat: Release Date, Cast, Story, Trailer & Everything We Know About The Steamboat Willie Horror Movie

One day after Steamboat Willie entered the public domain, a horror movie was announced that puts a scary twist on the classic Mickey Mouse short.

However, without a rating, it’s left up to the individual theater to decide how to handle the film. AMC, Regal, and Cinemark all confirm on their website that they’re enforcing Rated R rules for Screamboat, and most other theater chains will probably follow suit. As such, people under 17 who want to see Screamboat will probably need to be accompanied by someone 21 or older. However, it’s advisable to call your theater of choice to find out their specific policy if you have any questions.

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Screamboat Will Include Disney-On-Disney Crime

Steamboat Willie Will Go After A Group Of Disney Princesses

Leading up to the release, TMZ that some of the targets of Steamboat Willie in Screamboat are a group of drunk Disney adults dressed as the princesses, and Steven LaMorte confirmed it on Instagram. These characters are Cindi, dressed as Cinderella; Ari, dressed as Ariel, Jazzy, dressed as Jasmine, Bella, dressed as Belle; and Rory, dressed as Aurora. Rather than having full-on costumes, they Disneybound, taking inspiration from the characters in a subtle but immediately recognizable way.

The co-writers reportedly came up with the idea because LaMorte used to see a party group on the Staten Island Ferry every Saturday when he was in his 20s (via Gizmodo). It’s a clever nod to other Disney movies and all in good fun. However, this could upset potential viewers who are more sensitive to the idea of their favorite childhood characters getting murdered.

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Screamboat’s Makers Are Massive Disney Fans

The Screamboat Co-Writers Packed The Script With Quotes And References

A deranged black-and-white, realistic Mickey Mouse holds a harpoon out in front of him.

When LaMorte announced his plans to make a Steamboat Willie horror movie, some people called it sacrilegious to make the character into a killer. Others mistakenly assumed the director and co-writers hated Disney. While the former is subjective, the latter couldn’t be further from the truth, according to the i09 Gizmodo interview.

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Both co-writers are massive fans of Disney, with LaMonte describing himself as a “deep-cuts Disney fanboy.” He discussed the fact that the desire to be an Imagineer fueled his filmmaking career. Subsequently, the co-writers packed the film full of Easter eggs, quotes, and references to classic Disney films. They even teased some hidden Mickeys that audiences can keep an eye out for.

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Screamboat Will Only Have A Limited Release

Screamboat Won’t Be Available In Theaters Everywhere

Despite the hype leading up to its release, showtimes for Screamboat might be in short stock, depending on your location. Rather than having a wide release across the US and Canada, Iconic Events gave Screamboat a limited release, releasing in hundreds of theaters instead of the usual thousands. Meanwhile, the movie is playing exclusively in Vue Cinemas across the UK. Additionally, no information about the streaming release for Screamboat is available yet, so it might be a while before audiences can see it outside the theaters.