"Black Phone 2" Scares Up $42M Debut, Blumhouse Seeks Comeback

The horror sequel "Black Phone 2" has made a strong debut at the global box office, earning $42 million in its first weekend. This includes $26.5 million in the United States and Canada, as well as $15.5 million from 71 international markets. The film's opening weekend performance was slightly ahead of its predecessor, which launched to $35.8 million worldwide in 2022.

The success of "Black Phone 2" provides a much-needed boost for Blumhouse, the horror production company that has struggled with a string of flops in 2025, including "Wolf Man" and "M3GAN 2.0." The sequel, which carries a $30 million budget, is expected to have no trouble justifying its costs, but it will need to maintain its momentum beyond the opening weekend to be considered a major comeback for the studio.

Elsewhere, Disney's sci-fi sequel "Tron: Ares" has earned $48.4 million overseas and $103 million globally after two weekends of release. However, with a production budget of $180 million, the film is shaping up to become a significant money loser for the studio. Another expensive release, the Warner Bros. action comedy "One Battle After Another," has generated $100 million internationally and $162.5 million globally, but it is also likely to end its theatrical run in the red for the studio.