The horror film “Heretic,” produced by the renowned studio A24, marked an impressive entry into the box office arena with previews accumulating $1.2 million on its opening night. The film, crafted by the talented screenwriting duo Scott Beck and Bryan Woods—who are also known for their work on “A Quiet Place”—is poised for a strong performance. It’s important to contextualize this initial figure with the performances of similar genre films in recent history. While “Heretic” fell short of the $1.3 million preview benchmark set by A24’s “Hereditary” in 2018, it surpassed other recent horror flicks, indicating a promising start for the film.
The comparative analysis reveals the competitive landscape for horror films. “Heretic” not only edged past Universal’s “Abigail,” which garnered $1 million in previews, but it also performed better than Lionsgate/Blumhouse’s “Imaginary,” which attracted $725,000. Both of these films had significant openings—”Abigail” with $10.2 million and “Imaginary” with $9.9 million. Analysts project that “Heretic” could potentially reach a $10 million to $12 million opening weekend, making it a contender for the highest spot among the ongoing releases, notably against Sony’s “Venom: The Last Dance,” currently in its third week. This anticipated competition draws attention to the effective marketing and audience engagement strategies employed by A24.
As a hallmark of success, “Heretic” boasts a 94% approval rating from critics, which is a significant achievement in the horror genre. Audience reception is equally important; early views have rated the film at three stars, suggesting a moderate interest but not overwhelming enthusiasm. Understanding how critics and audiences intersect can provide valuable insight into the film’s longevity and overall box office potential. Audience feedback from various platforms reinforces the need for studios to actively engage with their viewership during the initial release windows.
In a contrasting vein, Lionsgate/Kingdom Story’s “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” also premiered on the same night, pulling in $500,000 from early previews. With a cumulative total of $2.8 million, including early access sneaks, the film is projected to challenge expectations, forecasting an opening weekend between $6 million to $8 million. Audience scores suggest that families are highly engaged, with 99% approval on the “popcorn-meter” and perfect scores from both parents and young viewers. This highlights a trend where holiday-themed films appeal to broader family demographics, contrasting sharply with the niche horror audience that “Heretic” aims to attract.
As “Heretic” embarks on its theatrical journey, its performance will serve as a litmus test for current trends in horror filmmaking by A24. The dynamics of competing releases, critical acclaim, and audience reception will be crucial factors in determining whether “Heretic” solidifies its place in the horror canon or becomes just another entry in a crowded marketplace. With multiple films vying for attention and box office gold, the coming weeks will reveal much about the evolution of both horror films and family-oriented cinema during the holiday season.