LOS ANGELES — Blumhouse’s horror sequel “Black Phone 2” dialed into a $10.7 million opening day on Friday, setting the stage for a projected $24.4 million weekend that would secure the top spot at the North American box office.
Meanwhile, Aziz Ansari’s ensemble comedy “Good Fortune” is struggling to find its audience, opening in third place amid an unusually quiet October market.
Industry analysts said “Black Phone 2” performed in line with expectations, with Universal Pictures booking it across 3,411 locations.
The film, which brings back Ethan Hawke as the masked serial killer known as “The Grabber,” benefits from positive audience reactions and limited competition in the horror genre.
The original “Black Phone” became one of Blumhouse’s surprise hits in 2022, opening to $23.6 million and eventually grossing $90 million domestically.
The studio is now hoping the sequel can replicate that long tail success as it faces one of its toughest box office years.
Blumhouse, known for low cost, high return horror productions, has seen a string of underperformers in 2025, including “Wolf Man,” “The Woman in the Yard,” “Drop” and “M3GAN 2.0.”
While most carried modest budgets, none broke out theatrically. With a reported $30 million production cost, “Black Phone 2” represents a larger financial gamble for the studio.
“The Halloween corridor has historically been favorable for horror,” said Jeff Bock, senior media analyst at Exhibitor Relations Co. “But this year, the market’s been sluggish, and Blumhouse needs a hit to regain momentum heading into the holiday season.”
Early signs suggest “Black Phone 2” could achieve modest profitability if it maintains momentum. Audience polling firm CinemaScore assigned the film a “B” grade slightly below the “B+” earned by its predecessor while critics remain largely positive.
Scott Derrickson, who returned to direct the sequel, expanded the story’s universe while retaining the psychological intensity that fueled the first film’s sleeper success.
“Fans come to Blumhouse for scares grounded in emotion,” said Derrickson during a press junket earlier this month. “We wanted to deepen the mythology without losing what made the original so personal and terrifying.”
Industry observers, however, note that horror films often front load their earnings, making word of mouth crucial for sustained success.
Horror tends to burn bright and fade fast, said media strategist Paul Dergarabedian of Comscore. “The first weekend is about brand loyalty.
Weeks two and three determine whether a film becomes a true hit or just another genre entry.” If projections hold, “Black Phone 2” will narrowly surpass the first film’s debut and mark Blumhouse’s strongest opening weekend of 2025.
Universal’s premium large format (PLF) strategy allocating higher priced screens previously occupied by “Tron Ares” also helped boost revenue.
By comparison, “Good Fortune” from Lionsgate is expected to open with just $5.9 million from 2,985 theaters. Despite featuring a star studded cast including Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen, Sandra Oh and Keke Palmer, the $30 million R-rated comedy is underperforming.
The film earned $2.4 million on Friday and previews combined, with CinemaScore awarding it a “B+.” Analysts point to the ongoing struggle of original comedies at the box office as audiences favor established franchises and horror titles.
“Comedies are facing an uphill battle theatrically,” said Shawn Robbins, chief analyst at Boxoffice Pro. “Even with good reviews, they’re relying on nostalgia or streaming buzz to draw crowds.”
Meanwhile, Disney’s “Tron: Ares” secured second place with a projected $11 million in its sophomore frame a steep 65% drop from its debut.
The sci-fi sequel’s North American total now stands at an estimated $54 million after ten days, far below expectations for its $180 million production budget.
Moviegoers expressed mixed reactions to the weekend’s new offerings. I loved the first ‘Black Phone’ it was creepy but clever, said Jordan Myers, a college student in Chicago who attended an IMAX screening.
The sequel wasn’t as shocking, but it still had great tension. It’s the kind of movie that makes you jump even when you know what’s coming.
Others were less enthusiastic about the comedy debut. “I thought ‘Good Fortune’ would be funnier with that cast,” said Maria Alvarez, a Los Angeles resident leaving a Friday night showing.
“It had moments, but it felt more like a streaming movie than something worth seeing in theaters.” The subdued turnout reflects a broader slowdown in October box office trends.
“We’ve had a soft few weeks following strong summer releases,” noted theater manager Brian Callahan of AMC Burbank 16. “Without a big tentpole or family movie, audiences are waiting for holiday releases.”
Despite its solid opening, “Black Phone 2” faces the challenge of maintaining audience interest through Halloween and beyond.
Blumhouse still has one more sequel on deck for 2025 “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” which could further test the studio’s staying power in the horror market.
Analysts also warn that competition from upcoming releases could shorten the film’s theatrical run. “Momentum can fade fast in a crowded release calendar,” said Dergarabedian.
“But if ‘Black Phone 2’ can hold its drops to under 50% week over week, it could hit $60 million domestically a win for a mid budget horror film.”
For “Good Fortune,” word of mouth and possible international rollout may determine whether it recovers from its slow start.
Lionsgate has yet to announce wide overseas release plans, but the studio remains optimistic about its long term prospects in digital and on demand markets.
As October winds down, “Black Phone 2” appears poised to give Blumhouse a much needed success story, even as the overall box office remains muted.
With comedies faltering and big budget sequels struggling to break even, horror once again proves to be Hollywood’s most reliable genre.
Whether the film follows its predecessor’s path to sleeper hit status will depend on audience endurance in the coming weeks a rare bright spot in an otherwise dim season for the silver screen.