When it was originally released in 2014, director Adam Wingard's The Guestdidn't quite light up the box office. While it scored strong reviews from critics and film festivals, The Guest and its blend of sci-fi, action, thriller, and comedy elements made it a difficult movie to market. Making the release even more challenging was that star Dan Stevens, who had impressed viewers with his work in Downton Abbey, hadn't secured much of an American following, so it was only niche genre enthusiasts who turned up to see the movie.