Posted October 8, 2023 2:10 pm ET
David Gordon Green, left, director of the upcoming film “The Exorcist: Believer,” and Jason Blum, CEO of Blumhouse Productions, discuss the film during Universal Pictures and Focus Features’ presentation at CinemaCon 2023, the official convention of the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO) at Caesars Palace, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
LOS ANGELES (AP) – “The Exorcist: Believer” has turned around and kicked out all the enemies at the box office.
Facing competition without major new releases, the latest resurrection of the demonic franchise brought in $27.2 million in North America in its opening weekend for Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions, according to studio estimates on Sunday.
That was more than the weekend of the next three movies combined. But while it nearly beat its reported $30 million budget in just a few days, The Exorcist: Believer’s take has been impressive since the two companies paid $400 million in 2021 for the rights to a new trilogy.
Last week’s top film, “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie,” was a distant second, with $11.8 million to earn $38.9 million after two weekends for Paramount Pictures. Another horror sequel, “Saw X,” was third for Lionsgate Films, with $8.2 million, bringing in $32.6 million after two weekends.
The new “Exorcist” was released just before the 50th anniversary of the original horror classic and comes just two months after the death of the original film’s director, William Friedkin.
Directed by David Gordon Green, who has become a heritage expert after completing a trilogy of “Halloween” movies, “The Exorcist: Believer” stars “Hamilton” actor Leslie Odom Jr. with Lidya Jewett as the 13-year-old daughter of. .
The film received poor reviews – holding a review score of just 23% on Rotten Tomatoes. Jake Coyle of the Associated Press was more charitable than most in his review, giving it two out of four stars for its lead performances and assured direction, but saying it “never manages anything like the deep terror of the original”.
The weekend finally saw “Barbie” fall out of the top 10 at the box office for the first time since its July 21 release, after grossing well over $600 million domestically and more than $1.3 billion worldwide.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released on Monday.
1. “The Exorcist: Believer,” $27.2 million.
2. “PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie,” $11.8 million.
3. “Saw X,” $8.2 million.
4. “The Creator,” $6.1 million.
5. “The Blind,” $3.1 million.
6. “A Haunting In Venice,” $2.6 million.
7. “The Nun II,” $2.1 million.
8. “Dumb Money,” $1.8 million.
10. “Hocus Pocus” (1993 re-release), $1.5 million.
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