Los Angeles, California — Blumhouse Productions has made a triumphant return to the box office with its latest release, “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2,” which is projected to gross $56.6 million across 3,412 theaters during its opening weekend. This impressive figure positions it as the highest debut ever for a film released after Thanksgiving, marking a significant achievement for the studio.
Despite receiving lackluster reviews from critics—holding a mere 13 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes—audience reception has been more favorable. The horror sequel garnered a B CinemaScore, which is typically a solid rating within the genre. This suggests that while critics may have panned the film, viewers appear to appreciate its suspense and thrills, contributing to its strong ticket sales.
While “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” won’t surpass the $80 million domestic opening weekend of its predecessor, the differing reception patterns make clear comparisons challenging. The original film, which drew significant attention for its fanbase and marketing, plays into expectations for both sequels.
The sequel is on track to become one of the highest-grossing horror films of the year, following “The Conjuring: Last Rites,” and has already secured its place as the top opening for a PG-13 horror movie this year. It is also set to break records as the highest December horror opening, outpacing previous films like “Scream 2.”
Blumhouse’s “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” based on Scott Cawthon’s hit video game series, achieved notable success earlier this year, earning over $300 million worldwide and solidifying its status as the highest-grossing horror film of 2023. Josh Hutcherson returns to reprise his role in this sequel, with Emma Tammi returning as the director.
On Friday, “Freddy’s 2” led the box office with approximately $30.1 million, including advance ticket sales, indicating strong momentum going into the weekend.
In second place, Disney’s “Zootopia 2” is projected to earn around $45 million, contributing to a domestic total that exceeds $222 million. Meanwhile, Universal’s “Wicked: For Good” is expected to see a steep decline in ticket sales, projecting about $15.6 million in its third weekend, down 75 percent from its debut.
Additional releases include GKIDS’ “Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution,” anticipated to garner approximately $10 million from 1,823 locations. Two Lionsgate films, Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair” and “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t,” are in a close race for fifth place, each projected to earn around $4 million.
“Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair” combines Tarantino’s iconic two-part film into a single showing that features previously unseen content and stretches over four hours, including a scheduled intermission. The ongoing competition at the box office reflects a vibrant and diverse array of cinematic choices for audiences this holiday season.
