The Black Phone 2 just proved that horror sequels still print money when you do them right. Scott Derrickson’s follow-up grabbed $23 million on Friday alone, setting up what industry insiders are calling the biggest horror opening of fall 2025.
Box Office Breakdown
Universal is projecting a $65-70 million opening weekend for The Black Phone 2, which would make it the third-biggest horror debut this year behind A Quiet Place: Day One and Smile 2. The Friday numbers included $8.5 million from Thursday previews, showing that fans were hungry for more Grabber mythology.
What’s really interesting is the audience split. Exit polls show 52% female attendance, which is unusual for slasher-adjacent horror. Derrickson’s focus on Gwen’s psychic abilities apparently drew in viewers who might normally skip this genre.
The international rollout adds another $31 million from 62 markets, bringing the global opening to nearly $100 million. That’s impressive considering the first film took months to reach those numbers. Blumhouse and Universal clearly learned from the original’s slow-burn success and went wide immediately.
Sequel Strategy
Here’s what most people don’t know – The Black Phone 2 almost didn’t happen. Derrickson initially resisted doing a sequel because he felt the first film told a complete story. But when Ethan Hawke agreed to return in a different capacity (playing The Grabber’s brother), everything changed.
The production kept Hawke’s involvement quiet until the final trailer dropped three weeks ago. That reveal generated massive social media buzz and likely contributed to the strong opening. Fans have been speculating about the brother angle since the first film hinted at The Grabber’s family history.
Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw return as Finney and Gwen, now dealing with the aftermath of their trauma while uncovering more victims. The sequel expands the mythology without losing the intimate horror that made the original special.
Critical Response
The Black Phone 2 currently sits at 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is rare for horror sequels. Critics are praising Derrickson’s restraint and the film’s willingness to explore trauma rather than just delivering cheap scares.
The movie’s connection to the first film goes beyond simple continuation. Sources close to production say Derrickson used Joe Hill’s original short story collection to mine additional material that wasn’t in the first adaptation. This gives the sequel literary credibility that most horror follow-ups lack.
Universal is already talking about The Black Phone 3 if this weekend holds. The studio sees potential for an Insidious-style franchise with Derrickson at the helm. But unlike that series, they’re committed to maintaining quality over quantity.
The success of The Black Phone 2 also validates Blumhouse’s low-budget, high-concept model. Made for just $18 million, the film will be profitable before it even hits streaming. That’s the kind of math that keeps horror thriving in theaters.
What really stands out is how the sequel earned its existence. This isn’t a cash grab – it’s a genuine continuation that respects the original while expanding the story in meaningful ways. And audiences are rewarding that approach with their wallets.
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