Killer! BLACK PHONE 2 Tops The Box Office
Horror is back where it belongs, right atop the box office. Director Scott Derrickson’s much-anticipated Black Phone 2 hit theaters over the weekend and it didn’t disappoint, as the sequel managed to take the number one spot on the charts as spooky season ramps up. It was a big and sorely needed win for the folks at Blumhouse, to be certain.
Hailing from Universal Pictures, Black Phone 2 opened to an estimated $26.5 million domestically to go with $15.5 million internationally for a $42 million global debut. Even against a $30 million budget, that’s a damn fine start. Especially in light of the generally good reviews and positive word-of-mouth from moviegoers. This figures to be the de facto choice for horror fans as Halloween approaches. That should only help its case in the coming weeks.
This is notably the first time that Derrickson, whose credits also include Sinister and The Gorge, has scored a number one film not connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He previously helmed 2016's Doctor Strange, which made $677 millon globally.
Competition wasn’t overly steep this past weekend. Aziz Ansari’s comedy Good Fortune disappointed with just $6.2 million, while Disney’s Tron: Ares took a nosedive dropping more than 66% for a mere $11.1 million second frame haul. The path was clear for Derrickson and writer C. Robert Cargill’s sequel. The follow-up even outperformed its predecessor, with The Black Phone opening to $23.6 million back in 2022, albeit against much stiffer competition in the middle of the summer. All the same, that movie finished with $161 million worldwide, so this is a good omen.
The sequel centers on Finn (Mason Thames) and Gwen (Madeleine McGraw), who are both struggling in their own ways after the events of the first film, namely their interactions with The Grabber (Ethan Hawke). After Gwen begins having strange visions in her dreams, she visits a winter camp alongside Finn, one that has ties to their family, in the hopes of solving a deadly mystery. Unfortunately, The Grabber is there waiting for them from beyond the grave.
It’s all a major sigh of relief for Blumhouse, with the studio having a rough year. Wolf Man ($35 million worldwide/$25 million budget) kicked things off in the disappointment department, followed by The Woman in the Yard ($23 million worldwide/$12 million budget) and Drop ($28 million worldwide/$11 million budget). Then came M3GAN 2.0 which absolutely bombed, pulling in $39 million globally against a $25 million budget.
All of this to say, Blumhouse needed a win. The good news is that they have another surefire hit in the can with Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 due to arrive in December. With any luck, the studio will get back on its feet. In the meantime, Jason Blum, Derrickson, Cargill and all involved have an excuse to pop some champagne.
Black Phone 2 is in theaters now. For more, check out the full list of winners from this year’s FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards.
