When it was first announced that Halloween Kills would be debuting on Peacock the same day it hit theaters, most analyst predicted that box office takings would take a sizeable hit. Instead, the middle chapter in the slasher trilogy has set multiple records for the pandemic era.
As per Deadline, David Gordon Green’s sequel comfortably topped the charts with a first frame of $50.4 million, which is well ahead of projections that had the return of Michael Myers opening to $40 million, so there’s going to be champagne corks getting popped in Universal headquarters right about now.
Not only is does that number make it the highest-grossing horror opener we’ve seen during the age of COVID-19, besting A Quiet Place Part II, but it’s also a new record for an R-rated release. On top of that, it’s far and away the biggest haul for a movie that was made available on streaming from day one.
With a budget said to be around $22 million, Halloween Kills is already profitable after just three days when you factor in international takings. Additionally, this weekend is the first time in a long time where the Top 10 has combined to earn over $100 million for three weeks straight, so things are finally looking up for the theatrical industry after so long in the doldrums.
Published: Oct 17, 2021 11:09 am