"Five Nights at Freddy’s 2" Opens to Massive $56.5M, Claiming No. 1 Spot
Universal and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster’s horror sequel Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 debuted with a massive $56.5 million opening weekend. This impressive figure follows a strong Friday and preview day total of $29.8 million, marking the best start ever for the first weekend of December.
The sequel surpassed the opening records previously held by Tom Cruise’s The Last Samurai and outperformed other notable post-Thanksgiving releases like Frozen 2. Despite a lower debut than the original film’s $80 million opening, the new installment’s purely theatrical release demonstrates robust demand for cinema experiences.
Audience and Demographic Insights
A significant 74% of attendees were under 25 years old, highlighting strong youth interest in the PG-13 horror title. Males made up 55% of the audience, with females accounting for 45%. Notably, 54% of viewers attended in groups, often bringing up to five friends. The diversity breakdown shows 42% Caucasian, 35% Latino and Hispanic, 11% Black, and 5% Asian American representation.
About 46% of ticket purchases occurred on the same day, reflecting enthusiastic last-minute attendance. Meanwhile, premium large format screenings contributed to 20% of the weekend’s gross. The West Coast emerged as a particularly strong market, while all regions showed solid activity.
Critical and Fan Reception
The movie earned a B CinemaScore from opening night audiences, compared to an A- for the first film. However, PostTrak data indicated a 70% definite recommend rate, exceeding the original’s 61%. Fans praised the film’s faithful adaptation of the video game’s atmosphere and style, with many highlighting its nostalgic and meta-comedic elements.
Social media engagement for Freddy’s 2 reached an extraordinary 843 million across platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram—72% higher than the first movie. The cast, led by Josh Hutcherson and Matthew Lillard, actively promoted the film to their combined millions of followers.
Box Office Context and Industry Impact
The $56.5 million debut contributes to an overall record $148.6 million box office haul over a typically slow frame. This surge challenges fears that streaming platforms and holiday distractions would deter theatrical attendance. Universal’s 52-week strategy for consistent moviegoing appears validated by this success.
Upcoming releases like Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution and Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair also show promising openings, indicating a robust late-year box office season. Meanwhile, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is positioned for strong continued performance, especially given its moderate $36 million production budget and the franchise’s already profitable track record.
This landmark opening confirms that theaters remain a vital outlet for fan-driven franchises and horror genre films, continuing to attract enthusiastic audiences even amid industry uncertainties.
Read more at: deadline.com
