In its second week, Five Nights at Freddy’s is projected to experience a steep decline of nearly 80%. However, even with this substantial drop, the movie is expected to maintain its position at the top of the box office with an estimated $17 million in ticket sales.
After a record-breaking opening weekend, where the film surpassed all expectations by grossing $80 million, a whopping $60 million more than its reported $20 million budget, any additional box office revenue is considered a bonus. Therefore, the projected decline for this weekend is not as alarming as it may seem.
It was anticipated that Five Nights at Freddy’s would experience a front-loaded response from fans, given their enthusiasm for the franchise since its inception in 2014. Instead of attempting to appeal to a broad audience, the filmmakers focused on catering to the existing fan base, a strategy that has proven successful. Consequently, the substantial drop in its second week was not entirely unexpected. Our Thursday predictions hinted at a decline in the range of 70%, though it appears to be closer to 80% based on current estimates. The movie’s poor reviews, including a 4/10 rating from our own Tyler Nichols, have likely influenced the general audience’s perception, signaling that this film is primarily for die-hard fans.
There is ongoing debate regarding the potential loss of revenue due to the simultaneous release of the film on the streaming service Peacock. It is worth noting that Blumhouse’s Halloween Kills, also released concurrently on Peacock, experienced a significant decline in its second week. However, for Five Nights at Freddy’s, it seems the studio made a win-win decision. Despite the substantial drop in its second weekend, the movie’s successful opening allowed it to be labeled a massive hit. Additionally, it achieved the distinction of becoming the most-watched program ever on Peacock within the first five days of release. This simultaneous release strategy proved beneficial for both theatrical and streaming formats in this unique instance. Nevertheless, studios should exercise caution and avoid becoming overly confident in its effectiveness, as such success is unlikely to be replicated in the future. (It should be noted that Marvel’s Black Widow also had an $80 million opening weekend while being available on Disney+, but it is not a direct comparison, as the Disney+ release required an additional $25 fee. The simultaneous release of the entire Warner Bros Catalog with HBO Max in 2021 represents a separate outlier in box office history.)
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour movie is projected to secure second place with an additional $11-$12 million in earnings. Meanwhile, Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, which lacks endorsement from Lisa Marie Presley, is expected to generate approximately $5 million over the weekend.
