Updated Forecasts for Black Phone 2 as It Debuts
The latest forecasts for the opening weekend of Black Phone 2 are in as the movie makes its debut in cinemas. This horror film by Blumhouse Productions, featuring Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw alongside Ethan Hawke as The Grabber, follows the 2022 hit The Black Phone. The first film was a major success, earning $161.4 million on a budget of just $16 million.
According to Deadline, Black Phone 2 garnered $2.6 million in its Thursday night previews across domestic theaters. The film is expected to earn between $20 and $30 million domestically over the three-day weekend.
Despite the previews earning slightly less than its predecessor, which brought in $3 million on its debut Thursday, the sequel could surpass the original significantly if it reaches the higher end of current projections. The Black Phone had a domestic opening of $23.6 million and later accumulated over $150 million worldwide.
The performance of Black Phone 2 by the conclusion of Sunday remains to be seen. Yet, if it meets its projections, it could be on track to becoming a significant success. However, given the closeness of its opening figures to the original film, it might not achieve success by as large a margin.
The budget for Black Phone 2 is reported at $30 million, nearly double that of the first film, setting a higher threshold for breaking even. Typically, films need to earn two and a half times their budget, placing its break-even point around $75 million.
However, achieving the higher end of its opening estimates and maintaining momentum, it could potentially rake in up to $205 million by the end of its theatrical run.
This outcome is quite feasible, especially given that Black Phone 2 has received solid reviews. Although it doesn’t quite reach the original’s 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, its 74% score, which is also Certified Fresh, holds up well, particularly for a horror sequel.
Another 2025 horror sequel from Blumhouse, M3GAN 2.0, received a Rotten score of 58%.
Even if Black Phone 2 does not surpass the global earnings of the original, it is still poised to exceed its break-even point comfortably, marking it as a standalone success. Thus, even with slightly diminishing returns, it has the potential to solidify the series as a key player in the horror genre, with more sequels possibly in the works.
Ava Thornton is an entertainment journalist with a keen eye for the latest in Hollywood, indie films, and streaming trends.
Her work blends insider knowledge with a deep appreciation for storytelling.
