The 2020s have welcomed in a new era in horror: the horrorsploitation of Disney classics. As works continue to enter the public domain, characters and Disney classics are getting the horror treatment. The once whimsical and happy fairy tales of childhood have become soaked with blood, and beloved characters have transformed into murderous villains in movies like Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey and Popeye the Slayer Man, and a new nightmarish take on Disney’s first major animation has just joined the lineup after making its streaming debut.
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Steven LaMorte’s terrifying reimagining of Walt Disney’s 1928 animated short film Steamboat Willie, the first-ever short to feature Mickey Mouse, is now streaming on Peacock. Screamboat made its streaming debut on September 12th, just months after its April 2025 theatrical release. One of the latest titles in the comedy horror genre, the movie centers around a group of passengers on the last ferry of the night in New York who find themselves in the middle of a bloody massacre when they’re hunted by a merciless rat. David Howard Thornton, best known for his portrayal of Art the Clown in the Terrifier movies, stars as Steamboat Willie alongside Allison Pittel, Amy Schumacher, Jesse Posey, Kailey Hyman, Jesse Kove, and Jarlath Conroy.
Why You Should Watch Screamboat
The horrorsploitation of beloved Disney classics hasn’t always been well-received by audiences, but Screamboat managed to succeed where others haven’t, securing a 79% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie never takes itself too seriously and instead plays into its absurd take on the Steamboat Willie character, even offering him a terrifying backstory that explains his status in the film as a ruthless killer. Thorton brings his hilarious and violent Art the Clown performance to an entirely new character, with Screamboat’s version of Steamboat Willie ridiculously entertaining.
Screamboat won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s a solid “so-bad-it’s-good” movie. The movie also makes a good argument for a slasher and is an absolute gorefest with constant over-the-top gore and insanely brutal kills. If you’re on the fence about Screamboat, it’s definitely worth adding to your watchlist this Halloween season, if not just to enjoy the absolute absurdity of the movie.
Other Horror Movies Now on Peacock
Peacock’s September 2025 lineup includes a massive roster of horror films perfect for Halloween movie marathons. This month, the streamer is taking horror back to the basics with numerous Universal Monsters movies, such as Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman, The Invisible Man’s Revenge, and The Mummy’s Ghost. Peacock’s lineup also now includes Alfred Hitchcock classics The Birds and Psycho, as well as movies in the Amityville Horror, Friday the 13th, and Child’s Play franchises.
Many of those titles are better suited for more mature audiences, but Peacock also made sure to add a few viewing options that the entire family can enjoy this Halloween season. Both Goosebumps and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark are now streaming on the NBCUniversal streaming service, and they make for great introductions to the horror genre for younger audiences.
Are you liking the current trend of turning Disney classics into horror movies? Will you be streaming Screamboat on Peacock? Let us know in the comments!
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Image courtesy of Focus Features.
