The Exorcist: Believer, the sixth installment in the Exorcist franchise, had its debut weekend in North American theaters, earning approximately $27 million. While this performance was on par with recent horror films' opening weekends, it fell short of expectations by about $8 million. The film's budget was $30 million, making it one of the more expensive entries in the franchise. The Exorcist: Believer is the first in a new trilogy that Universal reportedly paid more than $400 million for the rights to. The next film in the trilogy is expected to be released in April 2025.
Taking the second spot at the box office was PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, which earned $11.8 million in its second weekend. During its premiere weekend, it brought in almost $23 million. Saw X, another horror franchise installment, earned an estimated $8.2 million in its second weekend, a decline of about $10 million compared to its debut.
The release date for The Exorcist: Believer had to be moved up by one weekend due to Taylor Swift's announcement of her concert film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour. The Hollywood Reporter estimated that Swift's movie would have a "mega domestic opening," potentially earning between $100 million and $125 million.
The cast of The Exorcist: Believer includes Leslie Odom Jr., Ann Dowd, and Jennifer Nettles, with Ellen Burstyn returning to the franchise after her role in the original Exorcist. The film marks the beginning of a new trilogy, with the second film expected to be released in April 2025. The third film's release date has not yet been determined.
Overall, while The Exorcist: Believer performed similarly to recent horror films at the box office, it fell short of expectations. Its budget was relatively high compared to other films in the franchise, and it is the first installment in a new trilogy that Universal invested heavily in. The second film in the trilogy is expected in 2025, but no date has been set for the third film.