‘Black Phone 2’ Rings Up $2.6 Million in Previews as Blumhouse Eyes a Horror Comeback

The spooky season box office may have finally found its scream. Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions’ Black Phone 2 dialed up $2.6 million in Thursday night previews across 2,900 theaters, setting the stage for what could be one of the strongest horror openings of the season.

The preview numbers are almost on par with the original Black Phone (2021), which brought in $3 million before opening to $23.6 million during its debut weekend. Analysts project the sequel to land somewhere between $20 million and $30 million for its three-day opening — a promising sign for Blumhouse after a string of underperforming horror releases in 2025.

The film reunites director Scott Derrickson and star Ethan Hawke, who terrified audiences in the first film as The Grabber, a sadistic masked killer. Black Phone 2 sees Hawke’s character return — this time outside his suburban lair, suggesting the terror has escaped into the real world.

Early buzz has been encouraging. The sequel currently holds a 74% Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, not far from the original’s 81%, with critics praising its atmosphere, performances, and grittier tone. Audiences are expected to give it a solid B+ to A- CinemaScore, similar to the first film.

The production cost for Black Phone 2 is a modest $30 million, keeping it well within Blumhouse’s profitable formula — low budgets, big scares, and high returns.

A Welcome Shock to a Quiet Box Office

The film’s early success comes at a critical time. The autumn box office has been unusually quiet following a series of lackluster openings. Disney’s Tron: Ares, despite heavy marketing and star power, stumbled out of the gate with $43.4 million after its first week — a figure that many expected it to achieve in its opening weekend. The $180 million sci-fi sequel is now pacing just behind 2017’s Blade Runner 2049, which earned $45.4 million in its first week but held better in its second frame.

Meanwhile, adult-skewing dramas and prestige titles have struggled to find audiences. Warner Bros.’ One Battle After Another remains the only bright spot, holding at a strong $57.9 million total after three weeks. Other titles — including Roofman, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, and Caught Stealing — continue to lag behind expectations.

According to ComScore data, box office receipts from Labor Day through last Sunday totaled $770.7 million, nearly flat compared to last year’s period. Exhibitors are hoping Black Phone 2 can inject some life into the fall slate and finally deliver a film that meets or exceeds tracking projections.

Horror’s Resilient Appeal

If there’s one genre that can jolt audiences back into theaters, it’s horror — and Blumhouse has built an empire on exactly that. Despite a crowded year for horror titles, including Smile 2 and The Conjuring: Last Rites, the appetite for fear remains strong.

Black Phone 2’s preview earnings are in line with last year’s Smile 2, which took in $2.5 million on Thursday before grossing $23 million for its opening weekend. Both films benefit from strong word-of-mouth and clear branding: recognizable villains, high-concept scares, and sequels that deliver more of what fans loved the first time.

The Black Phone franchise, in particular, has built a loyal following. The first movie — based on Joe Hill’s short story — became one of 2021’s biggest horror success stories, earning more than $160 million worldwide on a $19 million budget. Its blend of supernatural tension and psychological realism struck a nerve with audiences craving smarter horror.

Derrickson, who co-wrote the sequel with C. Robert Cargill, has promised “more intensity and more gore,” noting that Black Phone 2 explores new emotional territory. “This isn’t just a repeat of the first movie,” he said in a recent interview. “It’s a different tone, darker and more relentless.”

Competition at the Multiplex

While Black Phone 2 leads the pack this weekend, it isn’t the only new wide release. Lionsgate’s Good Fortune — a comedy directed by and starring Aziz Ansari, alongside Keanu Reeves and Seth Rogen — enters 2,985 theaters. Early tracking suggests a modest $8–10 million opening.

Good Fortune earned $725,000 in Thursday previews, a number roughly comparable to Roofman’s $1 million last week before its $8 million debut. Lionsgate reportedly spent $30 million on production, with the film’s TIFF premiere generating mostly positive buzz (currently 79% on Rotten Tomatoes).

Still, the contrast between the two films — a high-concept horror sequel and a quirky comedy about cosmic miscommunication — reflects a larger trend: audiences continue to favor franchise-driven, genre-specific entertainment over mid-budget originals.

Holding Over from Last Week

Rounding out the top five box office spots going into the weekend:

1. Tron: Ares (Disney) – $1.5 million Thursday, $43.4 million total after one week.
2. Roofman (Paramount) – $567,000 Thursday, $11.8 million total.
3. One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) – $545,000 Thursday, $10.1 million for the week, $57.9 million cumulative.
4. Gabby’s Dollhouse (Universal) – $192,000 Thursday, $28.2 million total after three weeks.
5. The Conjuring: Last Rites (New Line/WB) – $195,000 Thursday, $173.8 million total after six weeks.

While Tron: Ares continues to dominate premium formats like IMAX and PLF screens, its second weekend drop could be steep — projections suggest as much as a 60% decline. In contrast, Black Phone 2 is poised to benefit from Halloween season interest and strong audience turnout for its genre.

Looking Ahead

Industry insiders see Black Phone 2 as a key test for Blumhouse, which has faced recent challenges in maintaining its horror dominance amid rising competition from A24 and other studios. If the film meets expectations and crosses the $25 million mark, it could reaffirm Blumhouse’s formula of small budgets and big scares — and possibly greenlight a Black Phone 3.

The next few weeks will bring additional horror and genre releases, but few with as much built-in recognition or proven appeal. Should Black Phone 2 hold well beyond opening weekend, it could emerge as this season’s sleeper hit.

For now, as moviegoers head into Halloween weekend, the message from the box office is clear: the phone is ringing again — and audiences are eager to answer.

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