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In 2018, moviegoers were taken by surprise when J.J. Abrams unveiled “Overlord,” a science fiction war film that introduced audiences to a thrilling mix of horror and action. Directed by Julius Avery, the film marked his second feature after his directorial debut and hinted at the bold style he would later bring to projects like “The Pope’s Exorcist.” Today, “Overlord” is gaining renewed attention as it streams on Prime Video, offering viewers the chance to experience its unique blend of suspense and gore.
“Overlord” transports viewers to the tense backdrop of World War II, focusing on a group of American soldiers tasked with sabotaging a Nazi radio tower. Their mission takes a terrifying turn when their plane is shot down, leaving them stranded in a mysterious village where they confront not just the horrors of war, but an army of undead soldiers. The film cleverly taps into the infamous Nazi experiments of the era, imagining a scenario where such grotesque science could have produced zombie-like soldiers.
Despite its innovative premise and gripping execution, “Overlord” struggled at the box office, earning just $41 million worldwide against its $38 million production budget. This financial misstep belies the film’s quality, as evidenced by its 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting it is a hidden gem deserving of a second chance from audiences.
Speculation ran high prior to the film’s release, largely due to J.J. Abrams’ involvement. Many fans wondered if “Overlord” would somehow tie into his popular “Cloverfield” franchise. This theory gained traction after “The Cloverfield Paradox,” a surprise addition to the series via Netflix, where it was revealed that experiments had been conducted for decades. Such connections seemed plausible, especially considering Abrams’ penchant for secrecy and interconnected storytelling, leaving fans eager to see if “Overlord” might expand the “Cloverfield” universe.
Fans initially speculated Overlord was a Cloverfield movie
Paramount Pictures
Before it was released, the involvement of producer J.J. Abrams had fans speculating that “Overlord” might turn out to secretly be an entry in Abrams’ fan-favorite “Cloverfield” franchise. After all, in 2017, the writer behind “God Particle” learned that his movie had become “The Cloverfield Paradox,” a Netflix follow-up to the theatrical movies “Cloverfield” and “10 Cloverfield Lane.” At the end of “The Cloverfield Paradox,” fans learned that these experiments had apparently been going on for a long time, and it was only natural to wonder if Abrams’ secretive next project would expand the universe.
Unfortunately, the speculation was wrong: ahead of the release of “Overlord,” J.J. Abrams said at the Las Vegas film exhibition showcase CinemaCon that the film was not connected to the “Cloverfield” franchise, and while he did promise that a fourth “Cloverfield” movie was in the works, as of this writing it has yet to materialize.
There are no overt nods to the “Cloverfield” universe in “Overlord,” but it’s easy to see where they might have been grafted on to this story about monster creation. All we would have needed was a Slusho mention or a nod to the Tagruato Corporation — but director Julius Avery wasn’t interested in linking up with Abrams’ larger universe. He told Gizmodo that he didn’t mind the speculation, however, saying, “This is its own beast but it’s great that everyone was showing a lot of interest in it.”
Much of the cast later went on to greater fame
Paramount Pictures
Though we couldn’t have known it in 2018, “Overlord” is especially fun to look back on now because so many members of the cast have gone on to much greater levels of fame. Wyatt Russell played Corporal Lewis Ford, a highly efficient killer. “Back then, it was like, this guy was like a pharmacist from Wyoming before he went over there. Through experience he became that way,” Russell told ComingSoon.net. “You need that guy who was in a moral gray area to win wars.” In contrast to the “Overlord” villains his character fought, Russell later played a super-soldier, starring as John Walker in Marvel’s “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” and “Thunderbolts*.”
PFC Boyce was portrayed by Jovan Adepo, who had already charmed critics in “Fences” when he starred in “Overlord.” He went on to be a regular on streaming television, including well-received roles in Netflix’s “3 Body Problem” and HBO Max’s “It: Welcome to Derry.”
“Stranger Things” fans will be delighted to notice that this was actually the feature film debut of Joseph Quinn, who broke out several years later as Eddie Munson. In addition to parts in hits like “A Quiet Place: Day One” and “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” Quinn played a soldier again in Alex Garland’s “Warfare,” a 2025 war movie with a 92% Rotten Tomatoes score that also deserves a spot on your watchlist.
