David Gordon Green's Halloween Kills is absolutely slaying its opening weekend, despite following the controversial practice of a hybrid release.
Hybrid releases -- premiering new movies simultaneously in theaters and on streaming services -- have become a common strategy in the pandemic era. Although films like Clint Eastwood's Cry Macho and Marvel's Black Widow fell short of box office expectations, Halloween Kills earned $22.9 million on its first day alone from its hybrid release in theaters and on Peacock, according to THR. The R-rated slasher, which premiered Oct. 15, was projected prior to its debut to earn $50 million during its opening weekend. If the high numbers persist throughout the rest of the weekend, the horror movie will surpass expectations and become one of the most successful pandemic era films.
Halloween Kills is also on track to set two new box office records. First, Green's horror movie appears poised to become the highest-earning movie with a hybrid release; the current record is held by Adam Wingard's Godzilla vs. Kong, which earned $31.6 million during its opening weekend. Second, the slasher is likely to become the horror film with the largest debut of the pandemic era, beating out John Krasinski's A Quiet Place Part II, which was released exclusively in theaters and earned $47.5 million during its opening weekend.
Many have predicted that Halloween Kills will have little trouble defeating its competition this weekend in terms of box office sales. The newest installment in the long-running James Bond franchise, No Time to Die, is expected to see an over 50% drop in sales during its second outing and Ridley Scott's most recent film, The Last Duel, is having an underwhelming debut, earning only $1.9 million on its first night.
As the movie's tagline -- "Evil dies tonight" -- teases, Halloween Kills sees Laurie Strode, her daughter Karen and granddaughter Allyson teaming up with a group of survivors of Michael Myers' original rampage to hunt down and stop the knife-wielding murderer once and for all. Jamie Lee Curtis is once again starring as Laurie, Judy Greer is returning as Karen and Andi Matichak is playing Allyson again. Moreover, actors Kyle Richards and Nancy Stephens, who played Lindsey and Marion in 1978's Halloween respectively, are making their franchise return.
Halloween Kills makes a dramatic revelation about Michael and ends with a shocking cliffhanger, setting up the final chapter in the iconic horror franchise's most recent trilogy. Halloween Ends is scheduled to premiere Oct. 14, 2022, and is expected to be Laurie's swan song.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter