The Global Box Office Shattered Expectations with ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ High Score.
Universal’s ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ not only exceeded expectations during its domestic box office premiere but also demonstrated impressive global success. Directed by Emma Tammi and produced by renowned horror specialists Blumhouse, the film swiftly crossed the $100 million threshold in global earnings within its first three days of release. This achievement suggests that a new and promising scary movie franchise might be emerging. ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ was crafted with a reported budget of just $20 million, underscoring once again the remarkable profitability of the horror genre when executed effectively.
The movie garnered an estimated $78 million in its initial domestic release and added over $50 million from 60 international markets, resulting in a combined worldwide opening of over $130 million. Remarkably, it achieved this success despite having a simultaneous release on the Peacock streaming service in the United States and receiving noticeably negative reviews. Even with critiques like Collider’s Chase Hutchinson branding it a “horrifyingly robotic video game adaptation,” a consensus seemed to emerge, as ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ currently holds a “rotten” 25% score on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. However, fan reception has been considerably more positive, with opening day audiences granting it a solid A- CinemaScore.
Blumhouse, the production company renowned for popular modern horror franchises like Insidious and The Purge. Their previous release, the high-profile misstep ‘The Exorcist: Believer,’ not only received harsh criticism but also struggled to match the domestic box office earnings achieved by ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ in just its first three days. In fact, this film represents Blumhouse’s most significant opening to date, surpassing the 2018 Halloween reboot, which grossed $76 million domestically and concluded its global run with approximately $250 million. ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ also secured the title of the year’s leading global debut for a horror movie, surpassing ‘The Nun II,’ and stands as the second-highest opening ever for a video game adaptation, trailing only ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie.'”
Adapted from the immensely popular video game series of the same name, the movie was intentionally tailored for a youthful audience eager to experience it on the grand cinematic canvas, rather than opting for home viewing. The film features Josh Hutcherson in the role of a night guard who embarks on a job at an abandoned amusement facility, where he faces relentless pursuit by four animatronic mascots. The ensemble cast also includes Matthew Lillard, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, and Mary Stuart Masterson. In the United States, you have the option to enjoy the film both in theaters and from the comfort of your own home, and be sure to keep an eye on Collider for further updates.
