Horror movies have traditionally been reliable performers at the box office, but 2024 has seen a dip in their success. The top earner so far, “Night Swim,” a film about a haunted swimming pool, managed just $54.6 million globally, a stark contrast to 2023 hits like “M3GAN” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s.” However, “A Quiet Place: Day One” is set to surpass “Night Swim” in its opening weekend alone, drawing audiences back to theaters for another chapter in the high-tension, low-volume horror series.
Written and directed by Michael Sarnoski (“Pig”) and featuring a story credit from franchise creator John Krasinski, “A Quiet Place: Day One” serves as a prequel with mostly new characters, including Djimon Hounsou reprising his role from “A Quiet Place: Part II.” Set in the notoriously noisy New York City, the film’s opening text notes that the city’s noise levels often reach around 90 decibels — akin to a “constant scream.” This changes dramatically when sound-hunting aliens invade, forcing residents into silence to survive.
On its opening day, “A Quiet Place: Day One” set a franchise record with $22.5 million, including $6.8 million from Thursday previews. The film is on track for the best opening weekend in the series, with forecasts suggesting a $53 million debut, potentially climbing to $55 million. The original “A Quiet Place” debuted with $50.2 million in 2018, and “A Quiet Place: Part II” opened with $47.5 million in 2021. “Day One’s” strong opening underscores the franchise’s consistent appeal to audiences.
“Inside Out 2” Continues to Shine
In parallel, Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” remains a dominant force, poised to maintain its No. 1 spot and add another $60 million to its domestic total over the weekend. With a global tally of $863 million, the sequel has already surpassed the original film, and reaching the billion-dollar mark seems inevitable. This kind of counter-programming benefits theaters, attracting both family groups and horror fans.
New Western Offering: “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1”
Meanwhile, Kevin Costner’s passion project, “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1,” is expected to gross $12-13 million in its opening weekend. This performance is comparable to Costner’s 2004 film “Open Range” ($14 million), though not accounting for 20 years of inflation. With a substantial budget of $50-100 million, “Horizon” might struggle at the box office. However, Costner remains content with his work. He told Entertainment Weekly, “Would I love it to be highly successful? Of course. But I am happiest that the movie looks the way I want it to look.”
