By Andrew Dalton, Entertainment Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --"The Exorcist: Believer" drove out all foes at the box office, but its numbers didn't entirely make heads spin.
Facing competition from no major new releases, the latest resurrection of the demonic franchise brought in $27.2 million in North America in its opening weekend for Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions, according to studio estimates Sunday.
That was more than the weekend take of the next three films combined. But while it nearly earned back its reported budget of $30 million in just a few days, the take for "The Exorcist: Believer" was underwhelming after the two companies paid $400 million in 2021 for the rights to a new trilogy.
Last week's top film, " Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie," was a distant second, with $11.8 million, and has earned $38.9 million after two weekends for Paramount Pictures. Another horror sequel, "Saw X," was third for Lionsgate Films, with $8.2 million, and has brought in $32.6 million after two weekends.
Horror films made up four of the top 10, and they could see some sustained numbers as Halloween comes closer.
"It seems like the demand for the horror genre by audiences is never ending," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. "The communal theater experience is tailor-made for it."
The new "Exorcist" was released just shy of the 50th anniversary of the original horror classic, and it comes just two months after the death of the original film's director, William Friedkin.
Directed by David Gordon Green, who has become a legacy sequel specialist after helming a trilogy of "Halloween" films, "The Exorcist: Believer" stars "Hamilton" actor Leslie Odom Jr., with Lidya Jewett as his 13-year-old daughter.
The film got poor reviews — managing a critics score of just 23% on Rotten Tomatoes. Jake Coyle of The Associated Press was more charitable than most in his review, giving it two stars out of four for its lead performances and sure-handed direction but saying it "never manages anything like the deep terror of the original."
The release of "The Exorcist" was moved up a week to avoid competing with the juggernaut of next weekend's concert film, "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour."
"I think they made a good call actually," Dergarabedian said. "All the oxygen is going to be sucked out of the room."
The storm of Swifties in cinemas could make for a $100 million weekend and set several new precedents for concert movies.
"This is on an order of magnitude beyond anything we've seen," Dergarabedian said.
The weekend finally saw "Barbie" fall from the box office top 10 for the first time since its July 21 release, after well over $600 million in domestic earnings and more than $1.3 billion globally.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "The Exorcist: Believer," $27.2 million.
2. "PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie," $11.8 million.
3. "Saw X," $8.2 million.
4. "The Creator," $6.1 million.
5. "The Blind," $3.1 million.
6. "A Haunting In Venice," $2.6 million.
7. "The Nun II," $2.1 million.
8. "Dumb Money," $1.8 million.
10. "Hocus Pocus" (1993 rerelease), $1.5 million.
Kari Grubin To Become First Woman President Of The Hollywood Professional Association
Kari Grubin will succeed Seth Hallen as president of the Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) on January 1, 2025.
When Hallen passes HPA leadership to Grubin, the organization marks a noteworthy milestone in its history as she becomes the first woman to hold the HPA presidency and only its third president since the organization’s founding, following Hallen and HPA founder Leon Silverman. A recognized expert in technology, consultative expertise and postproduction services, Grubin possesses the experience and vision to help drive HPA through the next phase of the industry’s evolution.
“I am truly honored and excited to be part of the leadership team of this great organization that means so much to me, and I will bring my passion and experience to this responsibility,” said HPA president-elect Grubin. “Now more than ever, HPA is a critical and hyper-relevant partner for the individuals and companies at work in our industry as we face the significant change, challenge and opportunity ahead. HPA will continue to be a conduit for our community to grow, reach out for new opportunities and adapt. I’m assuming the leadership of a thriving organization, and I look forward to shepherding it through its next powerful new phase. I encourage our community to join us in the work ahead and look forward to the upcoming collaboration.”
Hallen and Grubin will work closely over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition. A dedicated HPA Board member since 2020, Grubin has spearheaded several of HPA’s most impactful initiatives. She co-founded HPA Women in Post (2011) which provides leadership opportunities and visibility for women working in professional content creation. Under the leadership of Grubin and fellow board member Loren... Read More