The chilling animatronics of Freddy Fazbear's Pizza have once again proven their immense box office power, as the horror sequel 'Five Nights at Freddy's 2' dominated North American cinemas this weekend. Defying overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics, the film scored a massive $63 million debut, setting a new industry record in the process.
A Record-Breaking Opening Defies Critical Doom
Launching in 3,412 theatres across the United States and Canada, the sequel's performance far exceeded industry expectations. The opening not only marks the biggest debut ever for the weekend following Thanksgiving—a period typically known for quieter 'leftover' releases—but also stands as the largest opening of the year for a PG-13 rated film. In the horror genre, its launch is second only to 'The Conjuring: Last Rites'.
Jim Orr, head of domestic distribution for Universal, highlighted the film's significance for the industry, stating it helped drive "the biggest first weekend post-Thanksgiving ever." This success arrives amid broader concerns about the health of theatrical cinema, particularly following Netflix's acquisition of Warner Bros.
Fans Override Critics for a Communal Experience
Critics were merciless in their assessments, with The Associated Press's Mark Kennedy awarding it zero stars and labelling it an "incoherent mess." However, the film's core audience of horror and gaming fans demonstrated a clear disconnect from professional reviewers. According to PostTrak data, 70% of ticket buyers said they would 'definitely' recommend the film to friends.
Paul Dergarabedian of Comscore noted that the teen gamer demographic is often underestimated and will turn out in force for the right film to share a communal cinema experience. The film, produced by Blumhouse on a reported budget of $36 million, is already on track to be a major financial success. Universal opted for an exclusive theatrical release this time, unlike the first film's day-and-date streaming launch on Peacock in 2023.
Box Office Ripples and Industry Milestones
The success of 'Five Nights at Freddy's 2' was enough to push the family favourite 'Zootopia 2' into second place with $43 million in its second weekend. The Disney sequel, however, continues its phenomenal run with a global total reaching $915.8 million, helping push Walt Disney Studio releases past the $5 billion mark globally this year.
The rest of the top five was filled by 'Wicked: For Good' in third ($16.8 million), the anime release 'Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution' in fourth ($10.2 million), and 'Now You See Me: Now You Don't' in fifth ($3.5 million). A notable limited release was Quentin Tarantino's combined 'Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair,' which earned $3.3 million and received a rare A+ CinemaScore.
The strong weekend pushed the annual domestic box office past the $8 billion mark. While reaching the pre-pandemic norm of $11 billion seems distant, Dergarabedian suggested hitting $9 billion this year is possible if upcoming films "overperform in some way." The performance of 'Five Nights at Freddy's 2' serves as a potent reminder of the enduring power of a dedicated fanbase and the theatrical experience.
