The Exorcist: Believer Tops Box Office Despite Critical Flop, A Rocky Start for Blumhouse’s Latest Venture

David Gordon Green’s The Exorcist: Believer may not have conjured the magic critics were hoping for, but it still managed to secure the top spot at the box office this weekend. The film, which is the first to emerge from Blumhouse’s high-stakes acquisition of The Exorcist rights, is set to rake in around $28 million in its opening weekend. This comes after initial projections estimated a $30 million haul.

“The Exorcist: Believer feels like it will go down as an odd and misguided attempt at a direct sequel – one that fails to provide any new soul to the franchise,” said Kofi Outlaw of ComicBook.com, who awarded the film a mere two stars.

Despite the less-than-stellar reviews and a disappointing 23% positive score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film still managed to outperform last weekend’s winner, Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, and other contenders like Saw X, The Creator, and The Nun 2.

The Plot Thickens: What’s the Story About?

In The Exorcist: Believer, single father Victor Fielding faces his worst nightmare when his daughter Angela and her friend Katherine show signs of demonic possession. In a desperate bid to save them, he seeks the help of Chris MacNeil, the only living person who has witnessed such malevolent forces before.

The Underdogs: Other Box Office Contenders

Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie

Last weekend’s box office champion, Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, directed by Cal Brunker, slipped to second place this weekend, earning $11.65 million. The film, now in its second week, has a total gross of $38.7 million.

“As the team springs into action to save the city, Skye soon learns that even the smallest pup can make the biggest difference,” the film’s synopsis reads.

Saw X

Saw X, another sequel in the long-running horror franchise, is expected to land in third place with an $8 million weekend, bringing its total to $32.4 million. Directed by Kevin Greutert, the film follows John Kramer as he travels to Mexico for a risky medical procedure, only to find himself ensnared in a scam.

The Creator

The Creator, directed by Gareth Edwards, is also in the weekend’s top five, pulling in $6.12 million. The film, which explores a future war between humans and artificial intelligence, has a total earning of $24.9 million.

The Nun 2

Rounding out the top five is The Nun 2, directed by Michael Chaves. Now in its fifth week, the film managed to secure $2.6 million over the weekend, bringing its total earnings to $81 million.

The Final Take

While The Exorcist: Believer may not have lived up to the hype, it’s clear that the allure of a classic horror franchise was enough to draw audiences to the theaters. Whether this box office win translates into a franchise revival remains to be seen, but for now, it’s a small victory for Blumhouse and Universal Pictures. With a slew of other films vying for audience attention, the competition is fierce, but it seems that for this weekend at least, horror reigns supreme.