Working with Cody again following their collaborative efforts on Juno (2007), Jason Reitman stated he and his producers "want to make unusual films".[2] Cody said she wanted the film to speak to female empowerment and explore the complex relationships between best friends.[3] As a tie-in to the film, Boom! Studios produced a Jennifer's Bodygraphic novel, released in August 2009.
Jennifer's Body premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2009,[4] and was theatrically released in the United States and Canada on September 18, 2009.[5] The film was a commercial failure, grossing $31.6 million against its $16 million production budget, and received mixed reviews from critics, with its dialogue, emotional resonance, and performances of the cast being praised, while the narrative and uneven tone were criticized.[6][7][8][9]
Following revelations that the film's poor marketing campaign was the result of the studio's desire to capitalize on Fox's sex appeal and gear the film towards a younger male audience, Jennifer's Body has undergone a critical reevaluation in the years since its release, and has been described as a feministcult classic.[10][11][12][13]