Universal and Blumhouse’s Five Nights at Freddy’s has achieved an unprecedented start at the domestic box office, making it a historic success. The latest horror film from Universal and Blumhouse has shattered records with a $78 million opening weekend, despite also being available for streaming on Peacock. The movie’s Friday earnings alone reached an astonishing $39.5 million, which includes $10.3 million from Thursday previews.
The horror flick has claimed the title of the third-highest-grossing horror opening of all time, only surpassed by New Line’s two It movies. Additionally, it boasts the best Halloween weekend debut ever and is the highest-earning horror film of 2023 to date, surpassing Scream VI. Furthermore, it holds the second-highest opening for a video game adaptation, trailing behind The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Internationally, Five Nights at Freddy’s opened to an estimated $52.6 million across 60 markets, bringing its global start to $130.6 million. With a production budget of only $25 million, the film has become the highest-earning horror release worldwide for the year, surpassing The Nun II.
Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the audience has embraced the movie, giving it an A- CinemaScore, which is rare for a horror film. Universal insiders see the decision to release the film simultaneously in theaters and on-stream as a mutually beneficial strategy that caters to different viewer preferences. Paid-tier Peacock subscribers have exclusive access to the film, satisfying those who prefer streaming, while the theatrical release caters to those who enjoy the communal experience of watching horror movies in theaters. This approach also helps Peacock attract more subscribers during October, a month known for Halloween-themed content.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes in the film industry, including a shortened theatrical window for films earning less than $50 million. Previously, theaters would have declined to screen a movie already available for home viewing. However, with the current circumstances, no cinema operator would pass up on the opportunity to show Five Nights at Freddy’s.
Directed by Emma Tammi, Five Nights at Freddy’s stars Josh Hutcherson as a security guard working at a closed family-themed pizza restaurant. The narrative revolves around the animatronic animal characters in the restaurant coming to life and unleashing terror. Hutcherson’s character must protect his younger sister and prevent her from falling into the hands of their aunt. The film also features Kat Conner Sterling and Matthew Lillard, with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop responsible for creating the animatronic characters.
Elsewhere in the box office, Taylor Swift and AMC Theatres’ Eras Tour surpassed $200 million in global earnings, making it the first concert film to achieve this milestone. Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, and Robert De Niro, came in third place with an estimated $9 million in earnings. Angel Studios’ faith-based film After Death claimed the fourth spot, grossing $5 million. Blumhouse and Universal’s The Exorcist: The Believer rounded out the top five in its fourth weekend.
On the specialty box office front, Focus Features’ The Holdovers and A24’s Priscilla made promising debuts in several locations, with both films boasting per-location averages in the $33,000 range.
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