Horror fans, rejoice! Blumhouse is back on top with a chilling comeback that’s got everyone talking. But here’s where it gets controversial: while Black Phone 2 is ringing up success, Aziz Ansari’s star-studded comedy Good Fortune is leaving audiences wondering what went wrong. Let’s dive into the weekend’s box office drama.
Scott Derrickson’s Black Phone 2 has delivered a much-needed win for Blumhouse, opening to a stellar $26.5 million domestically and $42 million globally. This R-rated horror sequel, starring Ethan Hawke as the menacing Grabber, exceeded expectations—especially after the studio’s recent missteps, like the costly flop of M3GAN 2.0. Produced on a modest $30 million budget, the film secured the No. 1 spot with strong reviews, a solid B CinemaScore, and a surprising audience demographic: Latinos made up a whopping 39% of moviegoers, proving once again they’re the most frequent theatergoers. And this is the part most people miss: the sequel outperformed the original Black Phone, which debuted in 2021 with $23.6 million during the post-COVID cinema recovery and went on to earn $161 million worldwide—before horror fatigue set in.
But while Blumhouse is celebrating, Lionsgate’s Good Fortune is facing a different fate. Despite a star-packed cast including Seth Rogen, Keanu Reeves, and Aziz Ansari himself, the R-rated comedy pulled in just $6.2 million domestically—far below expectations for its $30 million budget. Directed by Ansari, the film follows a quirky guardian angel on a mission to save a soul, but it seems audiences weren’t laughing. Even a respectable B+ CinemaScore couldn’t save it from a lackluster debut.
Here’s the bold question: Is the era of star power fading at the box office, or did Good Fortune simply miss the mark? And with Black Phone 2 thriving, is horror making a full comeback after months of fatigue? Sound off in the comments—we want to hear your take!
