Will ‘The Black Phone 2’ Finally Revive Blumhouse’s Bumpy Box Office?

HOLLYWOOD, California — Blumhouse Productions is hoping to break its box office slump with the upcoming release of The Black Phone 2, set to debut between $23 million and $29 million across 3,200 North American theaters on October 20, 2025. The horror sequel features Ethan Hawke reprising his role as the chilling serial killer known as the Grabber.

Studio sources, however, are taking a conservative approach, suggesting an estimated $18 million opening weekend amidst a volatile market. The film has a reported budget of $30 million, following the successful trend of Blumhouse’s low-cost, high-yield production model.

Blumhouse, known for hits like Get Out and Halloween, faces pressure to turn things around after several recent misfires, including Wolf Man and M3GAN 2.0, both of which failed to meet their box office targets. The original Black Phone, released in 2021, grossed an impressive $161 million globally, signaling a strong post-pandemic recovery for theaters.

This sequel aims to capitalize on that success, diving deeper into the unsettling world introduced in the first film. Under the direction of Scott Derrickson, the film will explore the mythology surrounding the Grabber’s sinister methods, as it unfolds in a faded 1970s suburb.

In addition to The Black Phone 2, Aziz Ansari‘s Good Fortune is also entering the box office race, projected to earn $6 million to $8 million from nearly 3,000 theaters. Ansari, who wrote and directed the film, stars alongside Keanu Reeves and Seth Rogen. The film presents a unique body-swap storyline that critiques contemporary capitalism, as noted by Variety.

Industry analysts highlight that the October box office remains slow, and The Black Phone 2 may provide a much-needed boost for movie theaters. Paul Dergarabedian from Comscore emphasizes that the industry is looking for success as big-ticket films gear up for release later in the fall.

Whether The Black Phone 2 can meet its projections and restore Blumhouse’s reputation remains to be seen. Its success could reignite interest in mid-tier thrillers, a category that has struggled in recent months amid blockbuster-dominated schedules.