Home / Arts and Entertainment / Firestarter Remake Fizzles at Box Office, Finds New Life on Streaming
Firestarter Remake Fizzles at Box Office, Finds New Life on Streaming
15 Nov
Summary
- 2022 "Firestarter" remake bombed at box office, earning just $15 million globally
- Despite poor reviews, the film is now trending on Netflix's top 10 movies
- Blumhouse Productions struggled with pandemic-era releases, including this one
In 2022, Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions attempted to update the classic Stephen King story "Firestarter" for modern audiences. Unfortunately, the remake directed by Keith Thomas failed to ignite at the box office, earning just $15 million worldwide against a $12 million budget.
The film, which starred up-and-comer Ryan Kiera Armstrong as the flame-throwing protagonist Charlie and Zac Efron as her protective father, was met with scathing reviews from critics. It opened to a disappointing $3.8 million and never recovered, struggling to compete with blockbusters like "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" and "Top Gun: Maverick" that dominated the 2022 summer movie season.
However, the "Firestarter" remake has found new life on streaming, currently trending in Netflix's top 10 most-watched movies. This turnaround highlights the challenges Blumhouse Productions has faced in the pandemic era, as the studio known for low-budget horror hits has struggled to adapt to the rapidly changing entertainment landscape where audiences increasingly prefer staying home.
