Horror Report

Tag: box office

  • WEAPONS was a good movie. But it sadly wasn’t the best

    WEAPONS was a good movie. But it sadly wasn’t the best

    I just saw the movie Weapons. Zach Cregger made a decent film that’s worth talking about, but quite frankly, I’m not sure I’m in the camp of people giving it the 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.

    I’ll say this first: the movie’s not forgettable. The characters are not forgettable. Josh Brolin does a great job as Archer Graff. Julia Garner brings a lot of depth to Justine Gandy, and Alden Ehrenreich’s Paul Morgan—cop, ex-boyfriend, and conflicted soul—adds another layer to the story. There are a few protagonists, and plenty of antagonists. It’s not your typical flow. It’s more akin to Midsommar or Hereditary than your standard horror flick. It’s deeply unsettling, profoundly disturbing, and strangely funny.

    But a problem exists in the characters.. there was a lot of development–but we did not end up even liking any of them. No one was … ready for our acceptance..

    But sadly, for me, in the end, it’s more of a miss than a dead-center bullseye.

    Let me explain. The movie does a few things very well. It doesn’t take itself too seriously at points when it shouldn’t. Even during the dramatic final conclusion—one of those moments in any film where you’d expect the audience to be on the edge of their seats—it slips in a scene that would go well with a laugh-track. If you had put some Benny Hill music over that scene, it would have completely lost credibility.

    But here’s the thing: while you’re laughing, you drop your guard… and then it hits you with a horrific, graphic, gory scene. That’s what Cregger does best here—he lulls you in with a little levity, only to jab at you when you least expect it. It’s not light after all. It’s mostly dark. He mocks your frivolity.

    It’s tough to do a movie review without spoilers, and I’m not going to spoil anything. I will say this: the most memorable character in this movie is one you don’t even see in the previews. I did myself a huge favor by avoiding spoilers altogether. The reviews I skimmed beforehand were short, vague, and gave me nothing concrete, and I’m glad for it. I recommend you do the same.

    That said, I can’t help but wonder if the marketing and buildup to this film were a bit over the top compared to what it actually delivers. We were led to expect a Stranger Things-esque production—mystery, vibe, nostalgia—and yes, we definitely get a vibe. In fact, much of the film is bright and sunny, like Hereditary, using that unsettling trick of placing horror under a blue sky. Cregger nails that.

    The flow works. The storyline is interesting. The acting is superb (despite not ending up liking many characters)..

    There are moments that put you on the edge of your seat, and there are moments that make you wince and cringe at what’s unfolding on the screen. But then… it just ends. And that’s the biggest jab of all.

    If you expect a solid ending, depending on your point of view, you might get it. But I think a lot of people walked out of the theater wanting something different. That’s strange, because up until the wrap, the movie was going well.

    The run-up to Weapons had everyone thinking it would be the horror movie of the year. For me, it’s one of the good ones. But we’ll wait until year’s end to decide if it really earns that crown.

  • Are comedy movies going to be funny again?

    Are comedy movies going to be funny again?

    Is there hope in the vast wilderness of dull comedies.. will slapstick bring us all back to a theater to laugh again–like really laugh?

    The newest NAKED GUN movie is released this week.. thanks to Liam Neeson, the straight laced face who will provide indecent frivolity..

    Here is what a sampling of critics have said:

    One of the funniest movies in recent history… It is just what I have been missing with comedies.
    — Rachel Leishman, The Mary Sue

    One of the most audacious comedies in years; one that evoked the biggest laughs of any press screening I’ve ever attended.
    — David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel

    It’s the funniest godd–n thing in years.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Inverse

    It’s very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very funny.
    — William Bibbiani, TheWrap

    The flick achieves what few comedies these days even attempt.
    — Joey Magidson, Awards Radar

    There’s enough inspired nonsense here to keep comedy-starved theatrical audiences engaged.
    — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter

    Other 2025 films have jokes; this one is jokes, and most of those jokes are really, really, really f—ing funny.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire

    Akiva Schaffer’s The Naked Gun really is The Naked Gun, not some halfhearted rehash or itemized nostalgia checklist.
    — William Bibbiani, TheWrap

    It’s arguably just as funny as the first three.
    — Aidan Kelley, Collider

    [It has] the kind of retrograde, politically incorrect humor that makes the movie feel almost like the old Naked Gun.
    — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter

    The original Naked Gun was hilarious. It was a film that practically had audiences wetting their pants. The new Naked Gun, by contrast, is amusing.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety

    Not everything lands, but on the whole, the film’s batting average is higher than 1994’s The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult.
    — Nick Schager, The Daily Beast

    Early Rotten Tomato score is 91%!

    We just want to laugh again…

  • SUPERMAN summer continues; FANTASTIC FOUR does not score as high as expected

    SUPERMAN summer continues; FANTASTIC FOUR does not score as high as expected

    Deadline among those reporting .. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is coming in lighter at $118M after a -42% slide on Saturday against Friday/previews for what was $33.2M. 

    The film had hopes for a $130 mil opening.. it came in less than expected, and global estimates were also a bit inflated..

    The movie is scoring $218 mil–$2 mil shy of Superman’s release..

    According to box office experts, entire families went to see SUPERMAN .. that did not occur for FANTASTIC FOUR..

    Developing..

  • The box office this weekend will see Supermen dethroned by a set of fantastic four

    The box office this weekend will see Supermen dethroned by a set of fantastic four

    Clark Kent, move out the way move out the way! It’s p Christmas in July for comic book fans.

    Fantastic Four, premiering today with amazingly high scores on Rotten Tomatoes, is finally here — and it’s been a long time coming. Marvel fans have been eagerly anticipating this film for years.

    Speaking of that Rotten Tomatoes score, critics are giving it an 89% rating, while fans are even more enthusiastic, pushing it up to 92%. These numbers are already running higher than those for the new Superman movie.

    According to reports from Deadline, Fantastic Four is off to a blazing start, with early projections suggesting a $56 million Friday night opening. That sets the stage for a potential $125 million weekend, with some conservative estimates placing the domestic total just shy of $130 million over three days.

    Interestingly, Deadline also reports that Superman drew 31% parents and only 9% kids under 12. In contrast, Fantastic Four is pulling in 7% kids under 12 and a whopping 93% general audience — with a particularly strong showing from the under-35 crowd. That younger audience turnout could be significant.

    Marvel, for all its past dominance, has been teetering on the edge of audience fatigue. There’s been talk that people are feeling “comic-booked out” when it comes to theaters. But Fantastic Four might just be the spark the Marvel brand needs to reignite excitement during this comic book–spectacular summer of 2025.

  • Superman Blockbuster Summer begins

    Superman Blockbuster Summer begins

    The Superman has officially soared this weekend. Early estimates suggest James Gunn’s blockbuster is heading toward a final tally between $120 to $130 million, and the cape is flying high.

    Audiences are being rocked with excitement, even as critics and fans alike debate the film’s flow. Some say it’s a little sloppy, jumping around enough to make you feel like you’ve landed in the same mysterious void that opens in the movie. But most moviegoers? They don’t care. Why? Because this is the epitome of the summer blockbuster—high-octane action, purposeful humor, and a fresh yet respectful take on one of pop culture’s most iconic figures.

    This is Superman rising from the ashes.

    The last several years haven’t been kind to the Man of Steel on the big screen. He’s struggled to find his footing, with stories that never quite soared. But James Gunn seems to have cracked the code. He studied the character, honored the mythos, and delivered something that has people, casual fans and diehards alike, talking.

    Reports from movie theaters across the country point to something we haven’t seen in a while: true excitement. Not just from fanboys and fangirls, but from entire families. Kids are being introduced to Superman for the first time, and parents are feeling a sense of nostalgia that only the red cape can bring.

    There’s something special in the air with this film. Whether it needs to make $700 million or not is beside the point—for now, Superman isn’t just the Man of Steel… he’s the Man of the Blockbuster..

  • Will the man of steel equal the box office of millions?

    Will the man of steel equal the box office of millions?



    James Gunn May Have Just Cracked the Code on Superman…

    After years of hit-or-miss attempts to do justice to the ultimate man of justice, Superman might finally be soaring again—this time, thanks to James Gunn.

    Early indicators suggest this could be a box office juggernaut. The film has already raked in $21 million in previews alone, and despite some critics sharpening their snark, audiences are embracing the Man of Steel with open arms. As of this writing, the film is holding an impressive 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.



    Could this be the biggest movie of the summer?

    Even the political sphere is feeling the ripple. Former President Donald Trump posted an image of himself in full Superman regalia—on the official Truth Social White House account—seemingly trying to ride the cape-tails of the film’s buzz. It’s no surprise either, as Gunn has openly acknowledged that his Superman will dip into the realm of politics.



    But beyond the numbers, beyond the politics, there’s one question left that really matters:

    Will you like it once you see it?

  • 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.