‘Black Phone 2’ Aims for $20 Million Debut Amid Slow October
The upcoming release of “The Black Phone 2” aims for a box office debut of between $18 million and $29 million. The highly anticipated horror sequel features Ethan Hawke reprising his role as the sinister Grabber. Universal Pictures is distributing the film, which has a production budget of $30 million.
Blumhouse’s Recent Challenges
Blumhouse Productions, known for its successful horror films, has recently faced a challenging streak. This downturn includes several underperforming films this year, such as:
- “Wolf Man”: $34 million (budget: $25 million)
- “The Woman in the Yard”: $23 million (budget: $12 million)
- “Drop”: $28 million (budget: $8 million)
- “M3GAN 2.0”: $39 million (budget: $25 million)
Despite these challenges, Blumhouse seeks a comeback with “The Black Phone 2” and another project set for December, “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2.” The original “Black Phone,” which opened to $23 million in 2021, generated $161 million globally, setting a high benchmark for the sequel.
Box Office Competition
“The Black Phone 2” is expected to outperform last weekend’s top film, “Tron: Ares,” as well as the new comedy “Good Fortune,” directed by Aziz Ansari. “Good Fortune” is projected to earn between $6 million and $8 million from nearly 3,000 theaters. The film, which cost $30 million to produce, stars notable actors including Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen, and Keke Palmer.
Future Expectations
The current October box office is slow, with low attendance predicted until the holiday season. Upcoming films that could boost ticket sales include:
- “Predator: Badlands” – Disney
- “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” – Lionsgate
- “Wicked: For Good” – Universal
- “Zootopia 2” – Disney
Industry experts suggest that significant box office successes may not materialize until the November and December releases. This could mark a pivotal moment for Blumhouse as it looks to reclaim its prominent position in the horror genre.
