Horror Report

Tag: box office

  • 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..

  • HE-MAN gets June 2026 release date

    HE-MAN gets June 2026 release date

    Masters of the Universe fans have been down this road of false hope before.. But unless every corporate entity is gaslighting the fanbase, it appears a movie may finally be happening..

    From Mattel’s website, screenshotted and saved for posterity, news now on the official release of the movie, which is claimed to be coming in 2026:

    • Mattel Films’ and Amazon MGM Studios’ live-action feature film Masters of the Universe, based on the iconic franchise, will be released exclusively in theaters worldwide on June 5, 2026. 
    • Travis Knight is directing the film, with Chris Butlerwriting the screenplay (initial draft written by David Callaham, and Aaron and Adam Nee). Mattel Films’ Robbie Brenner, and Escape Artists’ Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Steve Tisch are producing.
    • The film will follow 10-year-old Prince Adam who crashed to Earth in a spaceship and was separated from his magical Power Sword—the only link to his home on Eternia. After tracking it down almost two decades later, Prince Adam is whisked back across space to defend his home planet against the evil forces of Skeletor. But to defeat such a powerful villain, Prince Adam will first need to uncover the mysteries of his past and become He-Man: the most powerful man in the Universe! 
    • Mattel’s Masters of the Universe was first introduced to the world in 1982 through a line of popular action figures. In 1983, the treasured animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe premiered and became one of the first children’s programs to be syndicated on television. From inception, the MOTU brand was built upon the message of becoming the best version of oneself and today, the franchise spans a variety of consumer touchpoints across toys, television, video games, and more.
  • Joaquin Phoenix being blamed for JOKER 2 failures!

    Joaquin Phoenix being blamed for JOKER 2 failures!

    Todd Phillips.. nah..
    The ending scene? No way.

    It is Joaquin Phoenix!!

    At least that is what sources behind the scenes are claiming that insiders think.

    After all that build up and advertising blitz of Phoenix and Lady Gaga setting to rock our Gotham City world, critics and movie goers alike had similar reactions: Shock and awe at the failure that was JOKER 2.. So many hated the entire film. Others just hated the ended..

    (PS, we liked it until the final 5 minutes. All that cross universe nonsense.)

    But who is to blame?

    THE STAR!!

    The Hollywood Reporter, their sources claim that Phoenix is being blamed as a big reason for Joker: Folie à Deux’s critical results. The publication reports, “the idea for the sequel came to Phoenix in a dream,” leading to the Academy-Award-winning actor and director Todd Phillips to pitch it to now-former-chairman of Warner Bros., Toby Emmerich. When asked who the targeted audience was for the DC sequel, “one outside source sums it up this way: “For Joaquin.””

    Perhaps the real blame lays at the feet of Warner itself. Should this sequel have even been made?

    No one seems to be smiling all the way to the bank in the aftermath of this comically bad disaster…

  • Beetlejuice reigns for second week at box office

    Beetlejuice reigns for second week at box office

    If he goes number 1 a third week he appears..

    The second weekend of September for all movies came close to the $100M mark for the first time since pre-Covid 2019 thanks to Warner Bros’ Beetlejuice Beetlejuice rally at the box office, coming in at $51.6M weekend (-56%) after a second Friday of $14.4M and Saturday of $22.5M.

    The running US domestic total is $188M with global at $264.3M.

    We finally got the chance to see this movie in a crowded theater.. well worth it. Grab popcorn and sit back to one of the most enjoyable and least pretentious movies in a long time.

    Michael Keaton outdid himself. The characters .. the old time graphics.. the fun. Worth a second showing perhaps next week.

  • Just dropping LIKE A PRAYER here for posterity

    Just dropping LIKE A PRAYER here for posterity

    So as long as this Youtube video exists of course..

    The now famous re-do of Madonna’s LIKE A PRAYER from DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE..

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhpXfUt_BmU

    But even with the newfound fame the song has garnered, Madonna collaborator Patrick Leonard will not see the film!

    Meanwhile this weekend the film is taking in $90 mil in its second weekend and closing in on $700 mil globally, well on its way to become a billion dollar movie.