Some say it’s a fact and others say it’s an opinion, but more often than not the sophomore slump rings true. Sequels generally see fewer ticket sales and positive reviews than their predecessors. It’s very rare that a second film can capture the same glow and allure of the entry that came before it, but it looks like Annabelle: Creation is going to be one of the exceptions to this rule. Not only has the new film from Warner Bros. and director David F. Sandberg been hailed as a better movie by critics and fans alike, as of this weekend it’s officially beaten 2014’s Annabelle in terms of domestic box office gross.
Annabelle opened at #2 in 2014 and only managed to stay in the top 10 for three weeks; falling to #2 and to #8 before falling to #11. Produced on a budget of just $6,500,000 (and about 20mil in promo), the film was still a smash hit in theaters and grossed $84,273,000 during its full 78 days on the big screen. Annabelle: Creation has already topped these scores. Not only did it debut at #1, but it’s currently holding onto the #2 spot for what could be its third week in a row. Produced on a budget of $15,000,000 (and about 20mil in promo), as of today Annabelle: Creation is estimated to have made $88,895,000 in ticket sales in just 24 days in theaters.
We’re looking at a contender to cross the $100,000,000 and beyond mark. We haven’t seen a full-fledged horror flick due that since fellow franchise entry The Conjuring 2 in 2016. And odds are Annabelle: Creation will pass that film’s $102,470,000 benchmark.
