Can It Break Blumhouse's Box Office Streak?

Black Phone 2 is dialing in for the Halloween season, and it could end an unfortunate box office streak for Blumhouse that has lasted almost two years. 2021’s The Black Phone was a satisfying return to the horror genre for director Scott Derrickson. The Sinister filmmaker found success with another disturbing flick that turned Ethan Hawke into a rising horror icon.

In the upcoming sequel, Hawke returns as The Grabber, a terrifying serial killer who kidnapped kids and trapped them in his basement before ultimately killing them. While he himself was killed by Mason Thames’ Finney, he’s returning in a more disturbing, spiritual form to fulfill his vengeance against Finney and his friends.

The first Black Phone was a hit with critics and audiences, scoring an 81% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. It was a box office success as well, earning $161.4 million worldwide on a $16-$18 million budget. Its follow-up has potential to perform even better at the box office, and could earn an achievement for Blumhouse that it hasn’t had since 2023.

Black Phone 2 Can Be Blumhouse’s First No. 1 Film At The Weekend Box Office Since 2023’s Five Nights At Freddy’s

The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) standing with his head tilted to the side in Black Phone 2

2025 hasn’t been the best year for Blumhouse at the box office. All of the studio’s theatrical releases so far — Wolf Man, The Woman in the Yard, Drop, and Megan 2.0 — underperformed at the box office. These films didn’t reach No. 1 for any weekend they played in theaters, carrying over a similar result for the studio from 2024.

The last time Blumhouse had a No. 1 film was 2023’s Five Nights at Freddy’s, which held the No. 1 spot in its first two weekends. In its opening weekend, the film made $80 million domestically and $132 million worldwide, despite releasing on Peacock the same day. It grossed $297.1 million throughout its theatrical run, and is Blumhouse’s highest-grossing film.

While Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 will likely also perform well, Black Phone 2 has a strong chance at breaking the studio’s disappointing streak. The first film was a box office hit, but also built trust with audiences since it received positive reactions. The Grabber also gained popularity as a new horror antagonist, and could be a draw for genre enthusiasts.

Another advantage the film has is a lack of competition. Part of Blumhouse’s difficult stretch has been a mix of poorly received films and a competitive market. 2024’s Speak No Evil failed to overtake Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and Megan 2.0 couldn’t keep up with F1: The Movie. While other horror movies are releasing in October, Black Phone 2‘s main competition may come from Disney.

Tron: Ares premieres on October 10, a week before The Grabber’s return. If word-of-mouth for Ares is strong, it could cut into Black Phone 2‘s box office. However, the two films have drastically different audiences that may not interfere with each other. As it is the Halloween season, Black Phone 2 could be the top choice for audiences looking for a scary experience.