Editorial · Article
Night Patrol (2025): Where to Stream It, the Hulu Date, and the Reviews
On Shudder since April 17, 2026 · On Hulu from October 17, 2026 · Directed and co-written by Ryan Prows · RLJE Films / Shudder
By Alan Willey ·
Night Patrol is a vampire horror film from writer-director Ryan Prows, set in Los Angeles and starring Jermaine Fowler, Justin Long and RJ Cyler. In the US it streams on Shudder, where it arrived on April 17, 2026, and on Hulu from October 17, 2026. It is also included with AMC+ and can be rented or bought from the major digital stores.
It premiered at Fantastic Fest in Austin on September 19, 2025. RLJE Films and Shudder released it in a limited theatrical run on January 16, 2026, then digitally on February 10. It runs 104 minutes and is rated R.
The cast also includes Freddie Gibbs, YG, Flying Lotus, Dermot Mulroney, Nicki Micheaux and the wrestler CM Punk, credited under his real name, Phil Brooks. David S. Goyer is among the producers.
We have not seen it yet, because we score films only after watching them.
Where to watch Night Patrol
With a subscription: Shudder, since April 17, 2026. In the US it is also included with AMC+, including its Apple TV, Amazon and Roku channels, and with Philo.
On Hulu: from October 17, 2026, on Hulu's October schedule as published by TV Guide. It is a second streaming home for the film, not a premiere.
To rent or buy: Amazon, the Apple TV Store, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home, since February 10, 2026.
In theaters: its limited theatrical run began January 16, 2026 and has ended.
That is the availability at the time of writing, and it changes without notice. We will update this page if it does.
What is Night Patrol about?
In short: an LAPD officer has to set aside his differences with the area's street gangs when he finds that a police task force is hiding a secret that endangers the housing projects where he grew up.
It is a vampire film, and the marketing says so openly. The tagline is "Defang the police," and reviews since its Fantastic Fest premiere have called it a vampire thriller.
Jermaine Fowler plays Xavier Carr, Justin Long plays Ethan Hawkins and RJ Cyler plays Wazi Carr. Dermot Mulroney plays the sergeant, and Freddie Gibbs, YG, Flying Lotus, Nicki Micheaux and CM Punk also appear.
Is Night Patrol scary?
We cannot answer that yet, because we score films only after watching them.
What is on record: it is rated R for pervasive language, gore, sexual references, some drug use and strong bloody violence.
When we have watched it, its Fear, Gore, Atmosphere, Intensity and Overall scores will go on the film page.
What the reviews said
Critics were split. At the time of writing it holds 56% on Rotten Tomatoes from 54 reviews, with an audience score of 36%.
On the positive side, RogerEbert.com gave it three stars, and IndieWire's review called it a dreamy, biting vampire gang drama. On the other side, Bloody Disgusting's review from Fantastic Fest called it ambitious but messy. Rue Morgue's called it stylish but messy and still recommended it.
None of that measures how frightening it is, which is a separate question and the one our scores answer.
Ryan Prows
Night Patrol is Prows' second feature. His first was Lowlife (2017), and in between he directed a segment of the horror anthology V/H/S/94. He wrote Night Patrol with Jake Gibson, Shaye Ogbonna and Tim Cairo.
Its production companies include XYZ Films, Phantom Four (David S. Goyer's company), Tea Shop Films and BondIt Media Capital. The score is by Pepijn Caudron and the cinematographer is Benjamin Kitchens.
Related films on Watch Darkly
Sinners(2025)
Another recent vampire film rooted in a Black American community. It scores 8.8 overall on Watch Darkly, with Atmosphere at 9.2 and Fear at 3.5.
From Dusk Till Dawn(1996)
A crime thriller and a vampire film in one. It scores 8.3 overall, with Gore at 7.5 and Fear at 2.0.
Near Dark(1987)
Vampires as a roaming gang rather than aristocrats.
30 Days of Night(2007)
Vampires laying siege to a town with no way to call for help. It scores 7.2 overall with Gore at 6.7 and Fear at 3.0.
V/H/S/94(2021)
The anthology in which Prows directed a segment before Night Patrol.
Common questions
- Where can I watch Night Patrol?
- In the US it streams on Shudder, and is also included with AMC+ and Philo. It is on Hulu from October 17, 2026. It can also be rented or bought on Amazon, the Apple TV Store, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home.
- Is Night Patrol on Hulu?
- Yes, from October 17, 2026. It has streamed on Shudder since April 17, 2026, so Hulu is its second streaming home.
- Is Night Patrol on Shudder?
- Yes, since April 17, 2026.
- Is Night Patrol on Netflix?
- No. In the US it streams on Shudder and AMC+, and on Hulu from October 17, 2026.
- Is Night Patrol on Prime Video?
- Not as part of Prime itself. On Amazon it streams through the Shudder and AMC+ channels, which are separate subscriptions, and it can be rented or bought there.
- Is Night Patrol a vampire movie?
- Yes. The tagline is "Defang the police," and reviews since its Fantastic Fest premiere have described it as a vampire thriller set in Los Angeles.
- Is Night Patrol scary?
- Unknown until we have seen it. It is rated R for pervasive language, gore, sexual references, some drug use and strong bloody violence. We score films only after watching, so its Fear, Gore, Atmosphere and Intensity values will go on the film page.
- When did Night Patrol come out?
- It premiered at Fantastic Fest on September 19, 2025. RLJE Films and Shudder released it in a limited theatrical run on January 16, 2026, and digitally on February 10, 2026. It came to Shudder on April 17, 2026 and is on Hulu from October 17, 2026.
- Who is in Night Patrol?
- Jermaine Fowler, Justin Long and RJ Cyler lead the cast, with Freddie Gibbs, Dermot Mulroney, YG, Flying Lotus, Nicki Micheaux and CM Punk, who is credited as Phil Brooks.
- Is CM Punk in Night Patrol?
- Yes. The wrestler appears in the film credited under his real name, Phil Brooks.
- Who directed Night Patrol?
- Ryan Prows, who co-wrote it with Jake Gibson, Shaye Ogbonna and Tim Cairo. His first feature was Lowlife (2017), and he directed a segment of V/H/S/94 (2021).
- What is Night Patrol rated?
- R, for pervasive language, gore, sexual references, some drug use and strong bloody violence.
- How long is Night Patrol?
- 104 minutes, or 1 hour and 44 minutes.
- Is this Night Patrol related to the 1984 Night Patrol?
- No. The 1984 Night Patrol is an unrelated comedy starring Linda Blair. The 2025 Night Patrol is a horror film from Ryan Prows.