My friend who manages a Century theater in Los Angeles told me something wild – they had to add three extra Black Phone 2 screenings on Halloween night because crowds wouldn’t stop showing up. Lines wrapped around the building at 11 PM.
$31.2M Weekend
The Black Phone 2 pulled in $31.2 million over the Friday-Sunday frame, easily beating Venom: The Last Dance which dropped to second with $26.1 million. The Ethan Hawke sequel has now earned $142.7 million domestically after just three weekends in theaters.
Scott Derrickson’s horror follow-up benefited from perfect Halloween timing. Blumhouse and Universal strategically released it October 11th, giving the film three full weeks to build word-of-mouth before the spooky holiday weekend boosted attendance.
Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw return as Finney and Gwen Shaw, now dealing with The Grabber’s legacy two years after the first film’s events. The sequel introduces Jeremy Davies as The Grabber’s brother, creating new terror while honoring the original’s intimate horror approach.
Holiday Boost
The Black Phone 2 Halloween surge wasn’t accidental. Universal launched a $15 million marketing blitz specifically for the October 31st weekend, including social media campaigns encouraging fans to see it in costume. Theater chains reported 18% of audiences arrived in cosplay.
Critics initially worried the sequel couldn’t match the first film’s $161.4 million global total on a $16.9 million budget. But The Black Phone 2 has already crossed $260 million worldwide on a slightly larger $22 million budget, proving franchise viability.
The film’s success comes despite heavy competition. Smile 2 is still performing strongly in its fourth weekend, while Terrifier 3 continues drawing hardcore horror fans. But The Black Phone 2 offers more mainstream-friendly scares that appeal beyond genre enthusiasts.
Franchise Future
Industry sources say Universal already greenlit The Black Phone 3 for October 2026 release. Derrickson will return to direct, though he’s insisted on significant creative control after studio interference nearly derailed the sequel during post-production.
The Black Phone 2 performance validates Blumhouse’s model of respecting horror filmmakers and maintaining modest budgets. While Marvel and DC struggle with $200 million productions, Blumhouse continues printing money with smart, scary films.
The original film’s breakout success in 2022 surprised everyone. Based on a Joe Hill short story, it earned strong reviews (82% Rotten Tomatoes) and became one of that year’s most profitable films. The sequel matches that critical reception with 79% on Rotten Tomatoes.
International markets embraced The Black Phone 2 even more enthusiastically than the first. The UK contributed $31.8 million, while Mexico delivered $24.3 million. Asian territories like South Korea and Japan showed surprising interest despite horror traditionally underperforming there.
Ethan Hawke’s expanded role as The Grabber in flashback sequences gave fans exactly what they wanted. His performance remains the franchise’s signature element – terrifying yet strangely empathetic. Early Oscar buzz suggests Supporting Actor consideration, though horror performances rarely receive Academy recognition.
The Black Phone 2 success on Halloween weekend cements its place as 2025’s most profitable horror sequel, joining A Quiet Place: Day One and Smile 2 in a remarkably strong year for scary movies.
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