Source: Fortune
Summary
The summer box office has seen a surge in ticket sales, but not from the usual big-budget films. Instead, low-budget horror movies like “Scary Movie” and “Obsession” have dominated the box office. “Scary Movie” topped the box office with $55 million, while “Obsession” grossed $25.6 million in its fourth weekend. Meanwhile, big-budget films like “Masters of the Universe” and “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” have underperformed.
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The numbers tell one story.
“Scary Movie” notched a franchise-best $105.5 million global launch, despite poor reviews and so-so audience scores. The film’s success is a surprise, given the genre’s decline in recent years. Meanwhile, “Masters of the Universe” failed to revive the dormant franchise, opening with just $29.3 million domestically. The film’s poor performance is a blow to Mattel Studios, which had high hopes for the film. The weekend’s box office results are a reminder that even with big budgets and well-known franchises, success is never guaranteed.
It’s a strange new world when a low-budget horror movie can outperform a big-budget action film.
Author: Evan Null
