Horror Report

Tag: box office

  • Will negative reviews be Kryptonite for SUPERMAN?

    Will negative reviews be Kryptonite for SUPERMAN?



    This week, James Gunn’s much-hyped Superman movie premieres and with it comes a swirl of speculation, drama, and one massive oopsie.

    From the moment Gunn announced his take on the Man of Steel, fans have wondered just how political this Superman would be. Gunn hasn’t exactly dodged the question either. He’s said outright that the film will contain political elements, and in today’s fiercely polarized environment, that’s enough to set off alarm bells for both fans and detractors.

    Despite the anticipation, no official reviews have dropped yet. That’s because of a strict press embargo… well, mostly.

    In what might go down as the Kryptonian Leak Heard ’Round the World, The Daily Beast accidentally published its full review a whopping five days early. And it wasn’t exactly glowing. The headline?


    “The Terrible New ‘Superman’ Movie Is the Final Nail in the Grave for the Superhero Genre.”

    Whoopsie poopsie.

    The article was taken down within five minutes, but the internet doesn’t forget—and screenshots were everywhere within seconds. Warner Bros.’ PR team has been scrambling ever since, not only because the embargo was broken, but because it was broken with a fatal headline punch to the jaw.

    Talk about bad timing for a movie that’s already under a microscope.

    Now, Gunn and Warner Bros. are hoping that audience excitement—and perhaps some glowing word-of-mouth—can help the film deflect those early rays of criticism. Gunn has said the movie doesn’t need to hit $700 million to be considered a success. But considering its hefty budget and the fact that superhero fatigue is real (unless you’re a dinosaur—Jurassic World: Dominion roared back to life last weekend), some insiders are skeptical.

    Will Superman soar—or will those early leaked reviews prove to be its kryptonite at the box office?

  • Roar of July comfort: People flocked to JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH

    Roar of July comfort: People flocked to JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH

    The box office rolled out its dinosaurs for display this Fourth of July box office weekend–and it worked..

    Universal and Amblin’s Jurassic World Rebirth came in well ahead of expectations ..

    MORE..

    In North America, the holiday tentpole is reporting an estimated five-day domestic opening of $147.3 million, including $91.5 million for the three-day weekend.

    In North America, Rebirth ranks as the fourth-best showing ever for the July Fourth holiday, both in terms of the five-day and three-day number.

    According to official reviews, it’s ‘rotten’ on ROTTEN TOMATOES with the critics.. Moviegoers gave it more slack..

  • Horror Is Saving the Box Office—Whether Hollywood Likes It or Not

    Horror Is Saving the Box Office—Whether Hollywood Likes It or Not

    Let’s face it: horror movies almost never win Oscars. In fact, they’re the black sheep of the film industry—looked down on, snubbed by critics, and ignored during awards season. But here’s the twist: vampires, zombies, and masked killers might just be keeping Hollywood alive.

    According to Reuters, horror is crushing it at the box office. In fact, horror films now account for 17% of North American ticket sales, up from 11% in 2024 and just 4% a decade ago. That’s a massive leap—especially at a time when even Marvel movies are losing their sparkle and blockbusters are struggling to find footing.

    Sure, horror flicks might only enjoy a week or two of dominance before fading from the marquee—but they bring in money. Real money. Just look at the numbers: even modestly budgeted horror films like M3GAN and its upcoming sequel rake in returns. And now, with Five Nights at Freddy’s II on the horizon, Blumhouse is reportedly betting big on another hit to rescue their financial year.

    Let’s not forget: horror has always been the genre the so-called “serious” critics roll their eyes at. But those same critics might owe their careers—and their fancy premieres—to the very genre they dismiss. Without horror keeping theaters afloat, where would people even go to watch those “Oscar-worthy” art films?

    So here’s to horror: the genre that fills seats, pays the bills, and keeps the popcorn popping.

    Long live the monsters.
    Let the vampires bite.
    And may the zombies keep on rolling.

  • Dust off Nicole Kidman: AMC featuring 30 minutes of ads before movies

    Dust off Nicole Kidman: AMC featuring 30 minutes of ads before movies

    Starting this month, those who head to their local AMC Theaters location for the latest blockbuster may encounter 25 to 30 minutes worth of ads and trailers before it starts, per CNN.

    Movie ads already were … long.. but 30 minutes? …Whoa.

    AMC made an agreement with National CineMedia in June that resulted in ads placed in what’s known as the “platinum spot,” the brief period that immediately takes place before a movie begins.

    Typically, a screening will feature advertisements beforehand, trailers for upcoming films, and then a final brief note from the theater itself before the movie officially starts.

    National CineMedia is a company that provides ads to several top competitors along with AMC, but the deal will now allow AMC to get additional ads and generate more revenue, something it sorely needs.

    So maybe AMC will be little safer from major financial issues. Maybe.

    Meanwhile.. Nicole Kidman is whispering “heartbreak feels good in a place like this.” After 30 minutes of course.. anything but previews feel good too.

  • 28 zombie genitals later

    28 zombie genitals later

    Fans of the zombie genre—you’ve been patient. You waited what feels like 28 years for this follow-up to Danny Boyle’s iconic 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later. And now, finally, 28 Years Later is here… with more controversy, bigger (literally) zombies, and a lot of very mixed feelings.

    Let’s talk about the elephant—or should I say appendage—in the room. Social media lit up after the early screenings, not with praise, but with memes, gasps, and raised eyebrows. Why? Giant zombie genitals. Yep. Not exactly the cinematic moment fans were expecting.

    While the critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave the film some love, the audience reviews are far less forgiving. Some say the trailer was better than the movie itself. Others questioned whether this franchise still has bite in a post-Walking Dead world, where zombie fatigue is very, very real.

    Still, 28 Years Later managed to pull in $30 million over its opening weekend, which isn’t bad for horror—but it’s worth noting that it front-loaded heavy with diehards on Thursday previews, then dropped off. Compare that to How to Train Your Dragon, which took $37 million and proved that dragons (at least this week) are hotter than the undead.

    Box office stats show the strongest numbers came from the East Coast, West Coast, and South Central U.S., with AMC Burbank leading the pack at $97,000 through Saturday. Demographics? 49% of the audience were men over 25, and 46% were Caucasian, followed by Latino/Hispanic (25%), Black (12%), and Asian American (10%).

    There’s also chatter about the ending—some calling it bold, others calling it baffling. Either way, 28 Years Later has stirred up more discussion than devotion. And while $30 million is a solid haul, don’t be surprised if it takes a steep dive as the weeks go on.

    So, was it worth the wait? That might depend on how much you like your zombies… anatomically enhanced.

  • Disney tried to ruin Mother’s Day, but no one even noticed

    Disney tried to ruin Mother’s Day, but no one even noticed

    Someone needs to consult Mickey Mouse or Walt’s frozen head.

    This past weekend, Disney decided that Mother’s Day was the perfect time to re-release their somewhat floppy Snow White film. We say “somewhat floppy” because, while it did make $200 million globally, it cost $250 million to make—so they’re still in the red. But the Mother’s Day re-release may have added even more insult to injury. Shown in 1,300 theaters, the film pulled in less than what some Kickstarter campaigns make: just $350,000 in revenue.

    Snow White might not be the best choice for a Mother’s Day film, considering the mother is dead and the stepmother is, well, evil. Along with how much peiple hated the film. But Disney went for it anyway.

    Maybe there was some logic behind it. Snow White has become a meme magnet on TikTok, with videos galore mocking the film. Perhaps Disney thought it could cash in on some gallows humor and bring in audiences looking for a laugh, just like they did with the Minecraft movie. But no such luck. We didn’t chicken jockey Snow White. That didn’t happen—and instead, the meme of failure continues. Snow White remains abandoned by moviegoers.

    There’s a lesson here for Disney. And it’s not just about timing their re-release better. The real lesson?

    Stop making movies that people don’t want to see.

  • WEAPONS: The Creepy, Viral Promo That’s Got People Freaked Out

    WEAPONS: The Creepy, Viral Promo That’s Got People Freaked Out

    Warner Bros. is going full creepy-viral to promote Weapons — the upcoming child-horror flick from Barbarian writer-director Zack Cregger. The latest move? An unlisted two-hour surveillance-style video that shows kids running through the night. That’s it. Two straight hours of eerie night vision footage — mostly silent, occasionally disturbing, all deeply unsettling.

    The official poster sets the tone perfectly:
    “Last night at 2:17 a.m., every child from Mrs. Gandy’s class woke up, got out of bed, went downstairs, opened the front door, walked into the dark… and never came back.”

    A few of the comments on the video are fun.. A sampling of our favorites:

    in the 1980s we would call this “normal”
    “Kids are gonna start doing this at night, running down the streets with their arms open and dangling”
    “Ok guys. This is the whole movie. Dont waste your money.”
    “E V I L….welcome to Holly Wood”

    Weapons stars Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, June Diane Raphael, Toby Huss, and Benedict Wong — a solid cast, but let’s be honest, the internet can’t stop talking about that video. It’s already disturbing viewers, with some thinking — at first glance — that it might be actual found footage or worse. It’s not. It’s modern horror marketing, devolved and digitized for maximum effect. And it works. Two hours of children screaming, vanishing, and disappearing into the dark. Nothing concrete, just vibes. Bad ones.

    Here is the official trailer:

    This might be the most highly anticipated horror release of the summer. The trailer itself? Looks phenomenal. A seemingly mundane setup — high schoolers disappearing on a random Wednesday — but that’s what makes it even more terrifying. I’ve always found that the best horror comes from that sudden rupture of normalcy. The ordinary turning otherworldly. The safe spaces suddenly unsafe.

    Horror fans, rejoice. The rest of the world? They’re recoiling at this ad campaign — and that’s probably exactly the point. Love it or hate it, Weapons has everyone talking. Mission accomplished.

  • Trailer for FINAL DESTINATIONS BLOODLINES is the ‘2nd most watched of all time’

    Trailer for FINAL DESTINATIONS BLOODLINES is the ‘2nd most watched of all time’

    A bit of PR is coming from studios about the newest inclusion of yet another FINAL DESTINATION film into the ranks of horror history..

    New Line is bragging up the potential popularity of the film ..

    In the first 24-hours of release, the trailer traffic is the second best for any horror movie at 178.7M worldwide views behind New Line’s own It which had near 200M global views. 

    It is gaining on PENNYWISE and may surpass it..

    We will help by linking it here:

  • I just saw a PRECENSE, so you don’t have to– but actually you should too

    I just saw a PRECENSE, so you don’t have to– but actually you should too

    It’s been quite a while since I did a movie review, so here goes nothing!

    I just finished watching Presence, the David Soderbergh film starring Lucy Liu.

    Before heading into the theater, I, like many others, had a general idea of what to expect—a ghost story, but not your typical one. Instead, it’s a story told through the eyes of the ghost, offering a fresh and unique perspective.

    For a modern ghost story, it’s surprisingly creative. The last time something remotely similar was done was probably in the early 2000s with Nicole Kidman’s The Others. However, this film is vastly different. It stands apart with its stark tone and emotional depth. In fact, I believe many of the reviews I’ve read don’t do justice to what this movie offers.

    x x x

    Without giving away spoilers, I’ll just share this: the experience of watching the film in an empty theater added to the creepiness for me. I went alone, expecting a few other moviegoers, but since it was an afternoon showing, the theater was dark and empty. The occasional theater staff peeking in added to the eerie vibe, as if even they were surprised to find someone watching.

    Now, about the film itself: Soderbergh invites us to see life—or rather, death—through the ghost’s perspective. We witness a troubled family with clear signs of sibling rivalry, teenagers dealing with the pressures of peer influence and drugs, and, overarching it all, the theme of death. The antagonist is genuinely dreadful; you despise him. And by the end, in a dramatic twist, he gets his just deserts—though not without deep, dark, unintended consequences for the family.

    What struck me the most was the emotional impact of the film. None of the reviews I read beforehand prepared me for the depth of feeling it evoked. The last 10 minutes were utterly draining, and in the final moments, I sat alone in that dark theater, almost weeping. The intensity of the family’s struggles, the chilling implications of the story, and even the haunting nature of the 100-year-old mirrors left me shaken.

    This movie isn’t boring, contrary to what some critics have said. It’s also nothing like Skinamarink, as some comparisons suggested. This film has dialogue, music, and a narrative style that’s far more engaging. It’s beautifully shot and masterful in its dialogue. While some might argue the human interactions weren’t as creative, I’d disagree. I left the theater deeply moved.

    While there aren’t many jump scares, this film doesn’t rely on cheap tricks. Instead, it reaches into your soul and leaves a lasting impression. There’s something profound and meaningful about it. Even if it’s not to everyone’s taste, I urge you to ignore the critics who call it boring and give it a try. Perhaps you’ll leave the theater as I did, emotionally shaken yet strangely grateful for the experience.

  • Coming to theaters: Steven Soderbergh’s PRESENCE flips ghost sub genre on viewers

    Coming to theaters: Steven Soderbergh’s PRESENCE flips ghost sub genre on viewers

    A seemingly creative horror flick is about to hit theaters.. It’s not just another ghost story..

    The film is simply described as this: A family moves into a suburban house and becomes convinced they’re not alone.

    From what we are hearing, the movie is so much more.. A ghost story not from the eyes of the haunted.. but instead the haunter..

    A creative shift and necessary change in the sub-genre..

    All eyes on the box office–Rotten Tomatoes is showcasing largely positive reviews.

    The trailer here:

    AP interviews Soderergh..: To a certain degree, the audience is a weather system. Luckily because of the way I began, I’m the cockroach of this industry. I can survive any version of it.

    Developing..