Universal and Blumhouse’s Black Phone 2 kicked off with $2.6 million from previews in nearly 2,900 theaters. This is quite close to what the original film earned during its previews in 2021, which was around $3 million before it opened to $23.6 million.
Black Phone 2 is following a trend seen last year with Smile 2, which had $2.5 million in previews and ultimately made $23 million in its opening weekend. Blumhouse is hopeful that this sequel will break out of a tough patch the horror genre has been experiencing in recent months. Industry estimates predict an opening between $20 million and $30 million, with current reviews showing a solid 74% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
In this sequel, Ethan Hawke returns as The Grabber, but now operates in the real world instead of a 1970s suburban home. The production budget for Black Phone 2 is $30 million.
Box office trends have been slow lately. Disney’s Tron: Ares opened with $43.4 million, falling short of expectations for its $180 million budget. It isn’t just Tron facing challenges; many adult films aren’t performing well either. This year, overall box office receipts from Labor Day through the past weekend have been flat compared to last year, totaling $770.7 million according to ComScore.
On a lighter note, Lionsgate is releasing Good Fortune, directed by and starring Aziz Ansari, alongside stars like Keanu Reeves and Seth Rogen. It’s expected to score under $10 million at just shy of 3,000 locations, which may reflect the impact of the recent writers’ and actors’ strikes. After premiering at TIFF, Good Fortune has a 79% rating.
In recent weeks, other films have also struggled. Roofman, another adult-targeted movie, made $1 million in previews but only reached $8 million in its first weekend.
To offer some context, audiences have been feeling this box office slump. Many moviegoers are voicing their thoughts on social media, questioning the lack of fresh and engaging content. As a result, there is a growing demand for films that offer a compelling story and unique characters.
- Tron: Ares – $1.5 million on Thursday, totaling $43.4 million.
- Roofman – $567K on Thursday, for a total opening week of $11.8 million.
- One Battle After Another – $545K, totaling $10.1 million in week three.
- Gabby’s Dollhouse – $192K, totaling $5.2 million in week three.
- Conjuring: Last Rites – $195K, bringing it to $4.36 million in week six.
As we head into the fall season, the hope for better box office numbers remains high. The movie industry is eager to find a hit that resonates with audiences again.
Source link
Black Phone 2,Good Fortune
