David Gordon Green’s “The Exorcist: Believer” has made a significant impact at the box office, earning $2.85 million in previews on Thursday night. This impressive start signals the potential for a high-$20 million to $30 million opening weekend. The film’s previews began at 5 p.m. in 3,050 theaters, and it is set to be screened in a total of 3,663 theaters.
Comparing these preview numbers to the performance of Lionsgate’s “Saw X,” “The Exorcist: Believer” earned $850,000 more. “Saw X,” with a production budget of $13 million, had a successful first week, bringing in an estimated $24.4 million. This surpassed the first-week earnings of “Jigsaw,” which grossed $22.1 million in 2017. Despite the competition from Paramount and Spin Master’s “PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie,” which won the previous weekend at the box office with an estimated $27.1 million, “Saw X” managed to maintain its dominance during the weekdays.
“The Exorcist: Believer” appeals to a similar demographic as “The Nun 2” did, targeting 18- to 34-year-olds and older males. Although “Saw X” received critical acclaim, with an 83% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, “The Exorcist: Believer” did not fare as well, earning a mere 20% rating on the same site. However, it is important to note that the film’s budget was relatively low for such a recognizable franchise, standing at $30 million before advertising and promotion. In comparison, the lowest-rated “Exorcist” film to date is “Exorcist II: The Heretic” from 1977, which received a 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite these mixed reviews, it is worth mentioning that Green’s 2018 reboot of “Halloween” achieved widespread critical praise, earning a 79% certified fresh rating and a strong box office performance.
One notable aspect of “The Exorcist: Believer” is the return of Ellen Burstyn to the franchise. Burstyn portrays the mother of the demon-possessed child, reprising her role from the original 1973 film directed by the late William Friedkin. Burstyn’s return adds a nostalgic element for fans of the franchise.
Originally, “The Exorcist: Believer” was scheduled to open on October 13. However, due to the overwhelming popularity of AMC’s Taylor Swift concert film, which generated significant pre-sales, the release date was moved up by a week. This scheduling change demonstrates the dynamic nature of the film industry and the importance of adapting to market trends.
The film industry experienced a setback recently due to an actors strike, causing several projects to be postponed or delayed. Among them was the anticipated Marvel franchise film, “Kraven the Hunter,” which was originally set to debut this past weekend. However, Sony Pictures decided to postpone the movie until next Labor Day weekend to ensure the full cast, including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Russell Crowe, and Ariana DeBose, could participate. While this delay may have negative implications for movie theaters, it reflects Sony’s strategic decision to leverage the cast’s star power to maximize the film’s success.
In addition to “The Exorcist: Believer” and “Saw X,” other films had noteworthy performances at the box office. “PAW Patrol 2” earned $900,000, showing a 7% increase from the previous day. The sci-fi film “The Creator,” produced by New Regency, 20th Century Studios, and Disney, earned $814,000 on the same day. It experienced a 20% decrease from the previous day but has accumulated $18.8 million in its first week of release. Fathom’s “The Blind” secured the fourth position by earning an estimated $565,000 on the same day, showing a 27% increase from the previous day. Overall, it has generated $6.5 million in its first week and $7.3 million in total.
David Gordon Green’s “The Exorcist: Believer” has made a promising start at the box office, garnering considerable attention and revenue. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film’s relatively low budget compared to the franchise’s previous installments makes its performance noteworthy. Additionally, the return of Ellen Burstyn and the strategic scheduling changes demonstrate the dynamic nature of the film industry. As audiences continue to flock to theaters, it will be interesting to see how “The Exorcist: Believer” and other films fare in the coming weeks.