Black Phone 2 Dominates Box Office with $42 Million Debut

UPDATE: The horror film Black Phone 2 has surged to the top of the box office, raking in $42 million globally in its opening weekend. Released by Blumhouse and Universal, the sequel pulled in $26.5 million from North America alone, surpassing the initial earnings of its predecessor.

This impressive showing comes as a significant boost for Blumhouse, which faced challenges earlier this year with films like M3GAN 2.0 and Wolf Man that underperformed. Directed by Scott Derrickson and featuring returning stars Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, and Miguel Cazarez Mora, Black Phone 2 centers around the terrifying legacy of Hawke’s child-abducting character, now haunting kids at a camp through another mysterious black phone.

Critics have responded positively to this sequel, which offers a wholly original story, diverging from the short story by Joe Hill that inspired the first film. The return of familiar faces adds a layer of nostalgia, enticing audiences to witness the continuation of this chilling tale.

In stark contrast, Tron: Ares experienced a staggering 65% drop in North American revenue, adding only $11.1 million this weekend, bringing its domestic total to $54.6 million. Additionally, the film struggled internationally, generating just $14.1 million and failing to resonate with Chinese audiences upon its debut.

With a global total of $103 million, Tron: Ares faces an uncertain future, raising questions about the viability of the franchise moving forward. Meanwhile, anticipation builds for Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, as Netflix has yet to disclose box office figures but plans to expand its limited release to more theaters next weekend.

Looking ahead, audiences can expect 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. Despite a quieter Halloween weekend, November 7 promises excitement with the release of Predator: Badlands.

Stay tuned for more updates as the box office landscape continues to evolve!