“Five Nights at Freddy’s” has once again energized the box office with its latest sequel, “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2,” which launched in 3,412 theaters across the U.S. and Canada over the weekend. The film exceeded expectations by generating a remarkable $63 million in ticket sales, as reported in studio estimates on Sunday.
Remarkably, the sequel has shown resilience against overall negative critical reviews, achieving the highest opening ever for a weekend traditionally marked by lower attendance following Thanksgiving. It now holds the record for the largest opening of the year for a PG-13 rated film and ranks as the second-highest opening for a horror movie, following “The Conjuring: Last Rites.” Centered around Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, a family restaurant where robotic characters turn deadly at night, the franchise has captivated audiences both on screen and in the gaming world.
Jim Orr, Universal’s head of domestic distribution, noted the positive impact of the film, stating, “There’s been a lot of doom and gloom about the industry overall, but this movie helped drive the industry to the biggest first weekend post-Thanksgiving ever.” This suggests that there may still be light ahead for the film industry as popular franchises continue to draw audiences in, fostering optimism for future releases.