UPDATE: The horror film Black Phone 2 has surged to the top of the box office, raking in an impressive $42 million globally during its opening weekend. This includes $26.5 million from North America alone, marking a strong start for Blumhouse and positioning it as October’s must-see horror movie.
The sequel to the critically acclaimed 2022 film has outperformed its predecessor, which opened with $23.3 million domestically and $35.8 million globally. This success comes as a much-needed relief for Blumhouse, which faced challenges earlier this year with underperforming titles like M3GAN 2.0 and Wolf Man.
Directed by Scott Derrickson and featuring returning stars Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, and Miguel Cazarez Mora, Black Phone 2 showcases a chilling narrative where the notorious child-abducting character, the Grabber, continues to terrorize children through a mysterious black phone at a summer camp. The sequel’s reception has been largely positive, indicating strong audience engagement.
In stark contrast, Disney’s Tron: Ares has plummeted by 65% in North America, adding only $11.1 million to its domestic total of $54.6 million. The film also struggled internationally, earning an additional $14.1 million but failing to resonate with Chinese audiences during its debut weekend. With a global total of $103 million, the future of the Tron franchise appears uncertain.
Meanwhile, anticipation builds for Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, as Netflix has not yet released box office figures. However, its limited release is set to expand to more theaters next weekend, potentially altering its performance.
Looking ahead, audiences can expect a wave of new releases on October 24, including Yorgos Lanthimos’ comedy Bugonia, Tina Romero’s Queens of the Dead, and Chris Stuckmann’s horror debut Shelby Oaks. As Halloween approaches, the genre offerings for the weekend remain sparse, but November 7 will see the release of Predator: Badlands.
Stay tuned for further updates as the box office landscape continues to shift!
