The North American box office recently encountered a noticeable slowdown following two weekends of stellar performance led by “The Conjuring: Last Rights” and “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle.” These films demonstrated a high degree of success, with “Demon Slayer” becoming the highest-grossing anime film in North America, amassing $17.3 million over the weekend and reaching a cumulative total of $104.7 million.
This slowdown in ticket sales saw about a 50% decrease compared to the previous weekend. Despite this, “Demon Slayer” continues to lead in earnings. In second place, the newly released horror film “Him,” produced by Monkeypaw and directed by Justin Tipping, grossed $13.5 million. However, it faced challenges in gaining significant traction due to lukewarm critical reception, holding a 29% on Rotten Tomatoes and a C- CinemaScore, despite its intriguing storyline about a young quarterback.
Competing alongside “Him” were “Demon Slayer” and “The Conjuring: Last Rights,” with the latter maintaining strong performance. “The Conjuring: Last Rights” earned $13 million in its third weekend, achieving a global total of $400 million, thereby becoming the highest-grossing film in the Conjuring series.
In contrast, the romantic drama “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,” featuring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell, did not manage to make an impact at the box office, earning a modest $3.5 million and receiving mostly negative critiques. This underlines the current tepid reception of romantic films amidst other genres.
Despite the dip in overall box office earnings, the horror genre remains a notable bright spot in the market. Recent horror hits like “The Conjuring: Last Rights” have considerably boosted box office revenues, reflective of a shift in consumer preferences. Horror films, which accounted for over 17% of ticket sales in North America, appeal to audiences by addressing societal anxieties, providing thrill and catharsis, and thus remain an attractive choice for moviegoers.
Looking forward, the film industry holds optimism due to the continued success of the horror genre, as it suggests that audiences are gradually returning to theaters seeking captivating narratives and the communal experience cinema offers. This growing interest in horror could provide much-needed momentum for the film industry, particularly heading into the upcoming summer blockbuster season.