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Moviegoers answered Universal/Blumhouse Productions’ call to come see BLACK PHONE 2.

The R rated horror thriller opened #1 to an over-performing $26.5M at 3,411 theatres ($7,769), per Comscore. Mid-weekend, Hollywood handicappers were expecting $24.4M. It did $15.5M internationally for a worldwide cume of $42M. BUDGET BUZZ: $30M to produce.

Directed by Scott Derrickson (THE BLACK PHONE), BP2 stars Ethan Hawke, returning as The Grabber. It’s tracking best for first choice with women over 25 (10 points over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics are okay at 74% and paying audiences are happy at 85%.

The franchise’s first episode opened 6/24/22 and did $161.4M worldwide on a production budget of $18M.

Disney’s TRON: ARES was second in weekend two with $11.1M (-66.49%) at 4,000 theatres ($2,785). It’s done $54.6M domestic & $103M worldwide. BUDGET BUZZ: $180M to produce.

Domestic ticket sales this weekend were $67.4M, according to Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian. That’s down 6.1% from the prior weekend and down 4% vs. this time last year. Comscore’s year to date tally has 2025 at $6.87B, up 3.58% from $6.63B in 2024. The prior weekend showed 2025 up 3.82% vs. last year. As of 6/8, Comscore was reporting 2025 ahead by 26.08%.

Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Lionsgate’s R rated fantasy action comedy GOOD FORTUNE opened #3 to $6.2M at 2,990 theatres ($2,074), per Comscore. BUDGET BUZZ: $30M to produce.

Directed by Aziz Ansari (first feature), it stars Seth Rogen, Ansari, Keke Palmer with Sandra Oh & Keanu Reeves. It’s tracking below norm for first choice with all demos. Rotten Tomatoes critics are positive at 77% and audiences are, too, at 78%.

Amazon MGM Studios/Imagine Entertainment’s awards contender AFTER THE HUNT expanded, placing ninth with $1.56M at 1,238 theatres ($1,257). Directed by Luca Guadagnino (CHALLENGERS), it stars Julia Roberts and has done $1.8M domestic. HUNT’s tracking for first choice below norm with all demos. Rotten Tomatoes critics are thumbs down at 40% and audiences hate it at 34%.

Next weekend (10/24) 🐝🐝🐝🐝: 20th Century Studios/Bluegrass Films’ music bio-drama SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE is opening at about 3,000 theatres.

Directed by Scott Cooper (THE PALE BLUE EYE), it stars Jeremy Allen White (as Springsteen) & Jeremy Strong. It’s tracking best for first choice with women over 25 (one point over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics are a blah 67%.

Sony/Crunchyroll’s R rated animated action adventure CHAINSAW MAN – THE MOVIE: REZE ARC is opening at about 2,800 theatres. It’s tracking best for first choice with men under 25 (two points over norm).

Paramount’s PG-13 romantic comedy REGRETTING YOU is opening at about 3,200 theatres. Directed by Josh Boone (THE NEW MUTANTS), its  stars include Allison Williams.