The streaming service Dropout has added one of 2024’s strangest and most celebrated comedies to its catalog, making the cult film Hundreds of Beavers available to watch with a subscription. The black-and-white, dialogue-free slapstick movie, which earned widespread acclaim during its theatrical and video-on-demand run earlier this year, is now streaming on the platform, offering fans a convenient second chance to discover why it became one of the year’s most surprising comedic hits.
Dropout has long established itself as a home for offbeat, inventive comedy, with original series such as Game Changer and Make Some Noise giving comedians the freedom to pursue increasingly absurd premises. The studio’s leadership clearly sees Hundreds of Beavers as a natural fit for that identity, positioning the film as a centerpiece addition to a roster built around unconventional humor.
A Video Game Reimagines the Silent Comedy
What makes Hundreds of Beavers so distinctive is its formal approach. Polygon named the film the funniest movie of 2024, describing it as a modern take on the silent comedies of Chaplin and Buster Keaton, filtered through the logic of a video game. The result is a movie that functions as both a loving homage to early cinema and a playful simulation of interactive entertainment.
The story follows Jean Kayak, played by Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, a trapper whose life unravels when a colony of beavers wreaks havoc on his existence. Stranded in a snowy wilderness, Kayak sets out to survive by hunting animals and collecting beaver pelts, hoping to accumulate enough wealth to marry a merchant’s daughter. Along the way, the film tracks his progress with on-screen counters and game-style menus, as he gradually upgrades his equipment and learns the behaviors of different creatures.
The Beavers Take Center Stage
Perhaps the most memorable element of the film is its titular cast. Most of the beavers are portrayed by performers in enormous mascot costumes, transforming the animals into a full-blown society complete with construction workers, lawyers, judges, and even a Sherlock Holmes–style detective duo. The physical commitment of the performers, combined with the film’s commitment to wordless comedy, creates a world that is as absurd as it is oddly coherent.
The effect is best summarized by the film’s central conceit: someone has taken the rhythm and escalation of a classic silent comedy and rebuilt it according to the rules of a video game. Every kill registers on a tally, every upgrade opens a menu, and every encounter with a beaver builds toward an increasingly chaotic climax.
If you like your comedy strange, physical and relentlessly committed to the bit, Hundreds of Beavers is well worth adding to your Dropout watchlist.
Polygon
A Tiny Budget, a Giant Reputation
Perhaps most remarkable about Hundreds of Beavers is the scale of its achievement relative to its budget. The film was reportedly made for just $150,000, with its directors stretching every dollar to deliver a project that has since earned a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes. That level of critical approval for such an inexpensive, niche production underscores how effectively the film’s singular vision resonated with audiences and critics alike.
The film’s journey from a modest independent project to one of 2024’s biggest cult comedy discoveries reflects a broader appetite for original, risk-taking comedy in an era often dominated by safe franchise fare. Its success on the streaming platform is expected to introduce the film to a new generation of viewers who may have missed its initial release.
Looking Ahead
Fans can begin watching Hundreds of Beavers immediately through a Dropout subscription, with the film positioned as a flagship title for the service’s comedy offerings. As Dropout continues to build its reputation as a destination for unconventional entertainment, additions like this signal a continued commitment to championing bold, idiosyncratic voices. For viewers seeking something genuinely different, the beavers are already waiting.
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