Experience the thrilling adaptation of the popular video game, “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” which has taken the box office by storm. The film, co-produced by Universal and Blumhouse, raked in an impressive $78 million domestically and $130 million globally on its opening weekend.
For a horror film with a modest budget of $20 million and a simultaneous streaming release on Peacock, these ticket sales are a remarkable achievement. In just three days, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” has already surpassed the total global earnings of 2022’s “Halloween Ends” ($104 million) and is set to overtake the previous hybrid release record holders, 2021’s “Halloween Kills” ($133 million). This unprecedented success demonstrates the power of horror films and game adaptations.
Shawn Robbins, chief analyst at Boxoffice Pro, praises the film’s appeal, stating, “Every studio should be taking note. This can be a game-changer and another clear blueprint for event-level horror films and game adaptations. ‘FNAF’ has become a cult classic over the past decade, with a passionate fanbase representing the up-and-coming generation of moviegoers.”
Starring Josh Hutcherson, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” follows a nighttime security guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, a family entertainment center. However, he soon discovers that this seemingly innocent place is inhabited by animatronic mascots with a penchant for murder. The film has been in development since 2015, and Blumhouse, led by Jason Blum, successfully brings this beloved game to life. The movie’s PG-13 rating and strategic Halloween release date have also contributed to its success.
The audience response has been overwhelmingly positive, indicated by the film’s A- CinemaScore. Critics, on the other hand, have been less impressed, resulting in a 25% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Nevertheless, such discrepancies are typical in the horror genre, and word-of-mouth could help sustain the film’s momentum beyond its opening weekend.
In addition to its box office triumph, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” has become the most-watched and top subscription driver for Peacock since its release on October 26. However, it’s worth noting that Peacock’s subscriber base is smaller compared to streaming giants like Disney+ and Netflix, and specific metrics have not been provided to validate this claim.
Some industry analysts argue that hybrid releases, like this one, miss out on the premium experience of watching a horror film in a dark theater surrounded by fellow audience members. David A. Gross, the head of movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research, points out, “The audience that watches it at home this weekend will not get that experience, and their ticket sale will be lost.”
Despite this concern, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” has garnered significant fan support, breaking numerous box office records during its opening weekend. Here are some of the records achieved by the film, as reported by Universal:
Domestic:
- Highest-grossing opening weekend for Blumhouse, surpassing 2018’s “Halloween” ($76.22 million)
- 19th Blumhouse film to open in first place at the domestic box office
- Biggest opening weekend of the year for a horror film, overtaking “Scream VI” ($44 million)
- Second-largest debut of all time for a video game adaptation, behind “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” ($146.3 million)
- Second-best opening weekend for a day-and-date streaming release, following Disney’s 2021 Marvel adventure “Black Widow” ($80 million in theaters and $60 million on Disney+)
- Biggest opening weekend ever for Universal and Peacock’s hybrid releases, surpassing the slasher sequels “Halloween Kills” ($49 million) and “Halloween Ends” ($40 million)
- Highest-grossing opening weekend for a Halloween release, outperforming 2011’s “Puss in Boots” ($34 million)
- Third-biggest debut for any horror film, trailing 2017’s “It” ($123 million) and 2019’s “It: Chapter Two” ($91 million)
- Best debut for a PG-13 horror film, surpassing 2001’s “The Mummy Returns” ($68 million)
International:
Global:
- Biggest horror opening of 2023, surpassing “The Nun II” ($88.1 million)
- Highest-grossing Blumhouse global opening of all time, surpassing “Halloween” ($91.8 million)
Despite its success, the debate surrounding hybrid releases and their impact on the movie industry continues. However, one thing is certain – “Five Nights at Freddy’s” has cemented its place among the highest-grossing horror films of the year, alongside titles like “The Nun II,” “M3GAN,” and “Scream VI.”
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