Horror “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” Opens with Nearly $57M, Sets Local Record but Falls Short of Original

The sequel to “Five Nights at Freddy’s” opened below the original’s debut, but analysts consider this far from alarming.

“Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” launched in U.S. cinemas with $56.6 million, setting a record for premieres on the first weekend after Thanksgiving and becoming one of December’s most successful horror releases.

Nevertheless, the film fell short of matching the original’s $80 million opening, despite the first installment having been released simultaneously in theaters and on streaming. Experts argue that such a comparison is misleading: the 2023 launch benefited from novelty and the intense buzz surrounding the game’s first adaptation. Additionally, for a weekend immediately following the holiday period, the sequel’s results are more than respectable.

Despite scathing critic reviews — 13% on Rotten Tomatoes versus 33% for the original — audiences embraced the sequel far more warmly. The audience score climbed to 88% based on over a thousand ratings, even edging out the first film’s 86%.

With a $35 million production budget, the sequel appears likely to turn a profit. Rumors suggest Universal and Blumhouse have already started developing a third installment. Whether the franchise can replicate the original’s global box office haul of over $300 million remains to be seen.

Source: iXBT.games