Blumhouse’s recent revival illustrates that every standout has its comeback. After facing a series of disappointments, the studio, known for its thrilling horror films, appears to have found its footing once more. Over the last two years, Blumhouse struggled to produce a genuine box office sensation, with their last notable success being Five Nights at Freddy's. While films like Speak No Evil, Imaginary, and Night Swim did manage to turn a small profit, the studio also endured some significant mishaps, such as the poorly received Wolf Man, the underrated yet unsuccessful Drop — which was praised as an excellent thriller — and the infamous M3GAN 2.0, which ultimately derailed the momentum of that franchise last summer.
However, The Black Phone 2 has arrived, outperforming many box office forecasts, including our own, with Comscore reporting a fantastic opening of $26.5 million. Interestingly, this amount exceeds the original film's debut of $23.6 million in the summer of 2022. This success highlights that reviving the character known as The Grabber was indeed a shrewd strategy. Nevertheless, while this sequel may not exhibit the same staying power as its predecessor, which garnered over $90 million in the domestic market, it symbolizes a much-needed rebound for Blumhouse — a positive turning point that could likely continue with the upcoming release of Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 this holiday season.
On another front, Disney’s Tron: Ares unexpectedly spiraled into a disappointing phase. This latest installment in the broken Tron franchise saw a staggering 66% drop in box office earnings, landing in second place with just $11.1 million, bringing its domestic total to $54.5 million. Given its current trajectory, it appears unlikely to surpass the $70 to $75 million mark domestically. Lionsgate faced similar challenges with Aziz Ansari’s Good Fortune, which underperformed significantly, managing only $6.2 million despite the star-studded cast featuring Keanu Reeves and Seth Rogen. This disappointing performance contributes to a disconcerting trend suggesting that broad comedies just don’t resonate with audiences like they once did.
Meanwhile, Warner Bros’ One Battle After Another is drawing a more consistently engaged audience, adding $4 million to its total, which now stands at $61 million. Although it may not be classified as a runaway blockbuster, it’s evident that viewers are still showing interest, and this film is likely to hold its own as we approach awards season.
In contrast, a prospective Oscar contender, Channing Tatum’s Roofman, featuring Kirsten Dunst, has stumbled abysmally, grossing only $3.7 million for a total of $15.5 million domestically. This downfall serves as a reminder that star power isn’t always a guarantee of box office success, especially as star-driven films seem to struggle this fall. The Smashing Machine has emerged as one of the year’s biggest flops, pulled from over 2,000 theaters after managing a dismal $11 million domestically. Similarly, After the Hunt, featuring Julia Roberts, fared poorly, raking in only $1.5 million. It appears that audiences are more inclined to wait for these films on streaming platforms, if they even choose to watch them, as none have effectively captured the cultural zeitgeist.
On the faith-based cinema front, Angel Studios has had its own set of challenges-- their latest offering, Truth & Treason, opened to only $2.7 million, placing it sixth. Family-friendly movies haven’t provided much support either; Gabby's Dollhouse earned just $1.65 million for a total of $29 million domestically.
Gratefully, the horror genre shines brightly this season. The Conjuring: Last Rites stands out as this period's sole definitive success, pulling in an additional $1.5 million, escalating its total earnings to an impressive $175 million. Another noteworthy success story is the anime title Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, which has now become the highest-grossing anime film of all time in North America, securing the tenth spot with another $1.3 million and a total of $131 million.
Could Crunchyroll’s next release, Chainsaw Man, sustain this financial momentum? We’ll have to wait and see next weekend, which also heralds the release of the highly anticipated film Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere. Here’s hoping that The Boss can help revitalize the current spate of underperforming adult dramas at the box office.
So, what films did you take time to watch over the weekend? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Weekend Box Office Results
- The Black Phone 2 - $26.5 M (Total: $26.5 M)
- Tron: Ares - $11.1 M (Total: $54.5 M)
- Good Fortune - $6.2 M (Total: $6.2 M)
- One Battle After Another - $4.0 M (Total: $61.9 M)
- Roofman - $3.7 M (Total: $15.5 M)
- Truth & Treason - $2.7 M (Total: $2.7 M)
- Gabby's Dollhouse - $1.65 M (Total: $29.9 M)
- The Conjuring: Last Rites - $1.57 M (Total: $175.44 M)
- After the Hunt - $1.55 M (Total: $1.77 M)
- Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle - $1.3 M (Total: $131.1 M)
