Is Blumhouse about to reclaim its horror throne? After a string of disappointments, including the underwhelming performance of MEGAN 2.0, the studio might be turning things around. Black Phone 2 is already making waves, with early numbers suggesting a promising future.
Black Phone 2 is off to a strong start, raking in $2.6 million in Thursday previews. If this momentum continues, the sequel could potentially earn around $18 million domestically, with some analysts even predicting a figure exceeding $20 million.
Let's rewind: The original Black Phone debuted when cinemas were still recovering from the pandemic. It managed to dial up $3 million in previews and ultimately earned $23.6 million in North America.
Meanwhile, Good Fortune, a film from Lionsgate and Aziz Ansari, featuring a star-studded cast including Seth Rogen, Ansari, Keke Palmer, Sandra Oh, and Keanu Reeves, brought in $725,000 in previews. With a production budget of $30 million, analysts are expecting a debut in the mid-to-high seven-figure range.
Here's the official synopsis for Black Phone 2, courtesy of Blumhouse:
Ethan Hawke returns in his most sinister role as The Grabber, seeking revenge on Finn (Mason Thames) from beyond the grave by menacing Finn’s younger sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw). As Finn, now 17, struggles with life after his captivity, the headstrong 15-year-old Gwen begins receiving calls in her dreams from the black phone and seeing disturbing visions of three boys being stalked at a winter camp known as Alpine Lake. Determined to solve the mystery and end the torment for both her and her brother, Gwen persuades Finn to visit the camp during a winter storm. There, she uncovers a shattering intersection between The Grabber and her own family’s history. Together, she and Finn must confront a killer who has grown more powerful in death and more significant to them than either could imagine.
The sequel welcomes back Mason Thames (How to Train Your Dragon) as Finney Shaw, Madeleine McGraw (Secrets of Sulphur Springs) as Finney’s sister Gwen, Jeremy Davies (Justified) as their dad Terrence, and Miguel Mora, whose only previous credit is The Black Phone, as Robin, a friend of Finney’s who was killed in the first movie. This time, Mora is playing a character named Ernesto. As mentioned, Ethan Hawke (Moon Knight) is reprising the role of the child-killer The Grabber. New additions to the cast include Demián Bichir of The Hateful Eight, Arianna Rivas (A Working Man), and Anna Lore (Final Destination: Bloodlines).
But here's where it gets controversial... Will Black Phone 2 live up to the hype?
What are your thoughts? Are you excited about Black Phone 2, or do you think Good Fortune has a better chance of success? Share your opinions in the comments below!
