In its second weekend, the latest installment in the "Insidious" franchise, titled "Insidious: The Red Door," surpassed "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" to take the top spot at the box office. The horror film, directed by Patrick Wilson, earned an impressive $32.7 million in ticket sales from 3,188 theaters. Despite receiving poor reviews, the film's success can be attributed to its modest budget and the enduring popularity of the horror genre.
The "Insidious" franchise, produced by Blumhouse and starring Wilson and Rose Byrne, has been a consistent moneymaker, grossing over $570 million worldwide. None of the films in the series have cost more than $16 million to produce, making them profitable ventures for the studio. While the films have generally received mixed reviews, audiences continue to flock to the theaters to experience the scares.
Sony strategically released "Insidious: The Red Door" between two highly anticipated blockbuster films, "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" and "Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part I." This decision paid off, as the horror film managed to dethrone the iconic Indiana Jones franchise and claim the number one spot.
"Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" came in second place in its second weekend, earning $26.5 million domestically and bringing its total to $121.2 million. Globally, the film has grossed an estimated $247.9 million. Despite its strong performance, the film experienced a 56% drop in ticket sales compared to its opening weekend.
Another notable release this weekend was "Sound of Freedom," a child trafficking drama distributed by Angel Studios. The film managed to secure the third spot with an estimated $18.2 million in ticket sales. The success of "Sound of Freedom" can be attributed to word-of-mouth and the studio's innovative "pay it forward" ticket purchasing option. The film has also gained attention from right-wing pundits and has been discussed on QAnon message boards.
In terms of underperforming films, "Joy Ride," a raunchy adult comedy, debuted with only $5.9 million in ticket sales. Despite positive reviews and a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film failed to attract large audiences. It received a B- CinemaScore, indicating that it did not meet expectations. The hope is that positive word-of-mouth will help boost the film's performance in the coming weeks.
Overall, the summer box office is on par with the previous year at this point. While surprises like "Insidious: The Red Door" and "Sound of Freedom" have provided a welcome boost to theater revenue, industry experts hope that the next few weeks will see an uptick in ticket sales to ensure a successful summer movie season.