Exorcist: The Untapped Potential That Critics and Studios Failed to Harness

Summary

The Exorcist: Believer, the first in a planned trilogy, is projected to earn between $30 and $36 million in its opening weekend.

Universal and Blumhouse are expressing dissatisfaction with these numbers, particularly in light of Halloween's (2018) impressive opening weekend of $76 million. The chances of the reboot being a complete failure are slim, however, the fact that Universal has invested $400 million in acquiring the franchise's rights sets a high standard for the trilogy's achievement.

The Exorcist: Believer's early box office projections have been revealed, and Universal and Blumhouse are reportedly disappointed. According to a new report, the latest installment in the iconic horror franchise, directed by David Gordon Green, is a direct sequel to the beloved 1973 classic by William Friedkin. The story centers around a father who joins forces with Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), a character from the original film, as they confront the demonic possession of his daughter and her friend by Pazuzu. Initial box office projections estimate that the movie will earn between $30 and $36 million during its opening weekend.

However, on the day of The Exorcist: Believer's theatrical release, Hollywood journalist Matthew Belloni reveals on The Town podcast that Universal and Blumhouse are less than impressed with the film's projected performance.

Belloni compares the film to Halloween, another recent reboot by Green that had a much bigger impact in 2018. Universal and Blumhouse were rumored to be disappointed that this film did not gain the same level of popularity as Halloween did prior to its release. They had anticipated a much larger opening, exceeding $30 million.

Will The Exorcist: Believer Be A Disappointment?

The Exorcist: Believer's box office opening, expected to be between $30 million and $36 million, may not be considered disastrous in normal circumstances. However, when compared to the impressive $76 million opening of Halloween in 2018, these projections seem underwhelming. It's important to note that Green's new film had a production cost of $30 million, $20 million more than Halloween. Additionally, Universal paid a staggering $400 million for the franchise rights, further complicating matters.

While the projected numbers for the opening weekend may not meet expectations, there is still a possibility that the movie will gain traction in the subsequent weeks, especially as Halloween draws nearer. The Exorcist: Believer is likely to break even and achieve moderate success by the end of its run. However, it is highly unlikely to reach the worldwide box office total of $255 million achieved by Halloween. It's worth noting that there will be increased competition at the box office in late October with the release of the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert movie.

The early projections for the franchise's future are concerning, as The Exorcist: Believer is set to be the first part of a trilogy. However, if it performs poorly, the plans for the two sequels may be altered. Nevertheless, due to Universal's substantial rights payment, more projects are guaranteed to be in the works. Despite mostly negative reviews from critics, the impact of reviews on horror films is typically limited.