In a remarkable weekend for the domestic box office, *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice* and *Speak No Evil* have emerged as the frontrunners. *Speak No Evil*, a reimagining of the 2022 Danish thriller, is the latest collaboration between Blumhouse and *Split* star James McAvoy. Its opening weekend saw it contend with the second weekend of *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice*, which launched with an impressive $111 million debut—securing the third-best domestic opening of the year and surpassing the original 1988 film’s entire global earnings in just three days.
According to *Deadline*, by Saturday morning, *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice* was anticipated to once again lead the domestic box office, projecting a 3-day total of $50 million in its second weekend. This robust performance is contributing to the second weekend of September surpassing $100 million in total earnings for the first time since 2019, a significant milestone since the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on box office revenues in 2020. Meanwhile, *Speak No Evil* is expected to secure the No. 2 spot with a $12.3 million debut, marking it as the highest-grossing new release of the weekend.
Implications of This Box Office Weekend for *Speak No Evil* and *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice*
#### *Speak No Evil* Thrives Despite a Second-Place Debut
It was almost certain that *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice* would reclaim the top spot following its record-breaking premiere. The film experienced a 54% decline from its opening weekend, which is a notable outcome for a title within the horror genre—though the comedy legacy sequel only marginally fits into this category. Even with a potential 60% or higher drop, typical for horror films, its $111 million debut would have ensured a strong second weekend performance regardless.
*Speak No Evil* is already on track to recoup its production costs.
Therefore, although *Speak No Evil* didn’t debut at No. 1, it isn’t necessarily struggling. Despite being a remake, it doesn’t benefit from the same nostalgic pull as *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice*. Additionally, with a modest $15 million budget compared to the $100 million for Tim Burton’s film, it’s swiftly progressing towards recouping its production expenses.
Our Perspective on the Weekend Box Office
#### *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice* and *Speak No Evil* Usher in the Halloween Season
The simultaneous chart-topping success of *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice* and *Speak No Evil* may herald a promising Halloween season at the domestic box office. With horror and horror-influenced genre films peppered throughout the schedule until the end of October, this genre might be entering a particularly prosperous phase, continuously boosted by new horror releases. Upcoming titles include *Smile 2*, *Terrifier 3*, *Never Let Go*, and darker comic book adaptations like *Venom: The Last Dance* and *Joker: Folie à Deux*.
Source: *Deadline*
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
- Comedy
- Supernatural
- Fantasy
- Horror
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the sequel to the original Tim Burton classic that starred Michael Keaton and Wynona Rider in a horror-comedy that involved ghosts trying to scare off new homebuyers from taking their house. The sequel brings back Michael Keaton as the hilarious and sleazy ghost with selfish intentions, now joined by Jenna Ortega in a new role.
Speak No Evil (2024)
- Horror
- Thriller
Speak No Evil is a 2024 horror-thriller film by writer-director James Watkins. A remake of the 2022 movie Speak No Evil follows a family who head to the country for a much-needed vacation - but the situation quickly deteriorates, thrusting them into a horrific nightmare.
