‘Black Phone 2’ Debuts With Strong Thursday Numbers Amidst Slumping Box Office

The autumn box office is looking for a spark, and this weekend’s new releases, especially Black Phone 2, are hoping to provide it. The Thursday preview box office numbers are in, offering an early glimpse into how new films will perform. Leading the pack is the highly anticipated horror sequel, Black Phone 2, which has posted a strong start, while the new comedy Good Fortune aims to find its audience.

As the season continues, all eyes are on whether these new entries can meet or exceed expectations and inject some much-needed energy into the market.

Black Phone 2 Answers the Call

Universal and Blumhouse’s Black Phone 2 made a significant impact in its Thursday showings, earning a solid $2.6 million from previews that started at 2 p.m. in 2,900 theaters. This figure is a promising start for the Scott Derrickson-directed sequel, which looks to recapture the magic of its predecessor.

This performance is right in line with expectations and comparable to similar horror releases. For context, the original Black Phone brought in $3 million from its previews back in 2021 before opening to a successful $23.6 million weekend. The sequel’s numbers are also tracking closely with last year’s horror hit, Smile 2, which earned $2.5 million in previews on its way to a $23 million debut.

With a production budget of $30 million and solid reviews (currently certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), industry projections place Black Phone 2 on track for a weekend opening between $20 million and $30 million. This would be a welcome success for Blumhouse and the horror genre this year.

Good Fortune Seeks Its Audience

Also opening this weekend is the Lionsgate comedy Good Fortune, directed by and starring Aziz Ansari alongside Keanu Reeves and Seth Rogen. The film earned $725,000 from its Thursday previews across 2,990 locations.

While this number is more modest, it provides a valuable point of comparison. Last week’s R-rated feature, Roofman, opened with $1 million in previews before finishing its debut weekend with $8 million. Based on these early figures, Good Fortune is projected to open with just under $10 million for the weekend. The film has been well-received by critics following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Holdovers Continue Their Run

Among the films already in theaters, Disney’s Tron: Ares is looking to stabilize after its debut. The sci-fi sequel ended its first week with $43.4 million. It is expected to see a significant drop in its second weekend but will retain most of its premium screen formats.

As the weekend unfolds, the industry will be watching to see if Black Phone 2 can energize the box office and hit the higher end of its projections, providing a much-needed win for the fall movie season.