More than a decade after its theatrical release, Scarlett Johansson’s unsettling science-fiction film Under the Skin is finding another audience.
The 2013 film joined Tubi’s free, ad-supported lineup on July 1, 2026, creating a new opportunity for curious viewers to experience one of Johansson’s most unconventional performances.
An Alien Among Humans
— Photo by PopularImages
Directed by Jonathan Glazer, Under the Skin follows an alien figure who assumes the appearance of a woman and travels through Scotland, approaching isolated men. Its simple premise develops into a disturbing exploration of identity, desire and what it means to inhabit a human body. The film avoids conventional explanations, leaving viewers to interpret much of its imagery for themselves.
Johansson Goes Quiet
Johansson delivers an unusually restrained performance, relying on movement, expression and silence rather than lengthy dialogue. Her character begins as a detached observer who treats people like prey, but unfamiliar emotions gradually complicate her mission. The role arrived between major studio projects and demonstrated her willingness to take creative risks beyond the blockbuster world of Marvel.
Filmed Around Real People
Many of the film’s street encounters were captured with hidden cameras around Glasgow. Johansson, disguised with dark hair and an English accent, approached men who did not initially realize they were participating in a movie. Glazer’s team later sought permission to use the footage. This method gave the conversations an awkward spontaneity that would have been difficult to reproduce with conventional casting.
A Theatrical Struggle
Under the Skin was never a major box-office success. Box Office Mojo lists a reported production budget of $13.3 million and a worldwide theatrical gross of approximately $7.5 million. Those figures do not include later streaming, television or home-entertainment revenue, but they help explain why the film was initially viewed as a commercial disappointment.
Praise Met Confusion
Critics frequently praised Johansson, Glazer’s visual approach and the film’s hypnotic atmosphere. Some viewers, however, found its slow pace and limited explanations frustrating. That divide became part of its reputation. Under the Skin is less interested in delivering a traditional alien thriller than in creating discomfort, ambiguity and questions that continue after the final scene.
Music That Unsettles
Composer Mica Levi’s score is central to the film’s disturbing mood. Warped strings, repeated rhythms and unfamiliar sounds make even ordinary streets feel dangerous. Rather than guiding viewers toward a simple emotional response, the music creates unease and uncertainty. The score became one of the most acclaimed elements of the production and helped establish Levi as a distinctive film composer.
Why It Endures
Time has been kinder to Under the Skin than its original box office suggested. The film appeared in The New York Times’ 2025 ranking of the 100 best movies of the 21st century, reflecting its growing critical stature. Its arrival on free streaming does not change its divisive nature, but it makes one of Johansson’s boldest films much easier to discover.
Featured Image: By YantsImages – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=166572866
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