‘Black Phone 2’ Earns $26.5 Million Amid Slow October Weekend
Universal and Blumhouse’s latest release, “Black Phone 2,” has kicked off the Halloween season with an impressive box office debut. The horror sequel generated $26.5 million from 3,411 North American theaters, leading a quiet weekend at the domestic box office. The opening performance slightly exceeded expectations and outpaced its predecessor, which launched to $23 million in 2021 during the early recovery phase from the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Closer Look at the Box Office Performance
While “Black Phone 2” was able to dominate the box office, it did so against a backdrop of a sluggish October weekend. Its original counterpart opened in the summer and faced stiff competition from blockbuster films such as “Elvis,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” and “Jurassic World: Dominion.” The sequel managed to thrive with minimal competition.
- Box Office Weekend Highlights:
- First Place: “Black Phone 2” – $26.5 million
- Second Place: “Tron: Ares” – $11.1 million
- Third Place: “Good Fortune” – $6.2 million
The horror flick also performed well internationally, earning an additional $15.5 million, bringing its global total to $42 million. However, while the results are promising, its production budget of $30 million, compared to $18 million for the original movie, highlights a need for continued success.
Audience Reception and Reviews
Reviews for “Black Phone 2” have been mixed. It received a “B” grade on CinemaScore, a slight decline from the original’s “B+.” Nevertheless, Universal’s domestic distribution president, Jim Orr, noted the positive word-of-mouth from audiences throughout its opening weekend.
Comparative Performance of Other Films
“Good Fortune,” the only other major release that weekend, grossed $6.2 million from 2,990 theaters, landing in third place. The comedy, directed by Aziz Ansari in his feature debut, revolves around the intertwining lives of an angel and a gig worker.
Disney’s “Tron: Ares” dropped sharply in its second weekend, earning $11.1 million and reflecting a 66% decline from its opening. This sequel, with a hefty production budget of $180 million, is struggling to break even despite having accumulated $54.6 million domestically and $103 million worldwide.
Outlook on Upcoming Releases
Blumhouse’s recent track record has been rocky, with several underperforming films over the past year. Despite these challenges, another sequel, “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2,” is lined up for release in December. As for “Good Fortune,” while it has received decent reviews, it may struggle to recover its production costs.
Overall, “Black Phone 2″ stands as a beacon of hope for Blumhouse and Universal amidst a tense box office environment, playing a crucial role in reigniting interest in low-budget horror films as audiences seek thrilling experiences this spooky season.
