“The Exorcist: Believer” had a solid box office opening weekend, but saw some hellish fire in the form of critic and audience reviews. The film did manage to recoup its production cost, earning $26.5 million domestic opening weekend. Globally, the film has pulled in around $44.2 million.
This new edition to “The Exorcist” franchise is the first to be produced by Blumhouse, since the company purchased the rights in 2021. The theatrical rights to the iconic horror franchise was a total $400 million purchase, that included streaming rights to Peacock. It also includes theme park extensions, like the “Exorcist: Believer” maze at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights. All the extras do take some of the pressure off of the films needing to smash box office records.
Blumhouse and “Halloween” director David Gordon Green are tackling another horror franchise, introducing a new trilogy into the continuity. Producer Jason Blum feels as though the new film is “the riskiest movie I have ever made,” due to the cost. Ellen Burstyn even returned to the franchise for the first time since appearing in the late William Friedkin‘s 1973 original.
Founder of the tracking and research firm The Quorum, David Herrin, had a few things about the film’s expected draw dropping. “Even if it had opened to $35 million – as tracking from last week suggested – that would have been a disappointment. Bringing back beloved IP doesn’t mean you will match the heights of these statistical anomalies [like Blumhouse’s 2018 “Halloween” reboot, which opened to a stunning $76.2 million]. You’re setting yourself up for failure.”
There are other factors that could play into the soft opening. Seriously the original premiere date of Friday the 13th could have done wonders for the franchise. We understand changing the date to avoid competing with Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour concert film. Ultimately we got robbed of the perfect date for a scary movie to be released in October. Limited talent marketing due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, along with a saturated horror market are other potential factors.
What about future films?
Gordon Green is set to direct two more films for Blumhouse and Universal’s “Exorcist” continuity. However, the reviews from critics and fans could change the direction those sequels head. The next film “Deceiver” is slated to hit theaters in 2025 and already has a completed script. While he is expected to return, Gordon Green however has a little doubt about his continued participation.
“My intention is just to start making things, and as those plans come together, if I find myself in that [“The Exorcist: Deceiver“] director’s chair, I’d be thrilled. But right now, I’m navigating it from a story perspective and looking at my realities of life as I pivot,” Gordon Green said.
Currently “The Exorcist: Believer” is competing in the horror market with “Saw X” and “The Nun II.” On October 27th, it will have to contend with another Blumhouse/Universal horror project in “Five Night’s at Freddy’s.” The film based on the video game franchise of the same name is expected to open strong. This despite being released to Peacock the same day it hits theaters.
