In an exciting development for horror film enthusiasts, Sony's 28 Years Later is set to debut with a preview gross exceeding $5 million. Sources indicate that this highly anticipated movie is generating significant buzz ahead of its release. However, it is essential to approach comparisons with New Line's recent success, Final Destination: Bloodlines, which achieved a preview gross of $5.5 million, culminating in a franchise-best opening of $51.6 million.
Horror films are known to be frontloaded, meaning they often see a spike in earnings during their opening weekend. While 28 Years Later has received glowing reviews from critics, boasting a remarkable 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences have been less forgiving, giving it a score of 67%. This juxtaposition highlights the differing perceptions of critics versus general viewers regarding this Danny Boyle-directed zombie flick.
In comparison, Final Destination: Bloodlines not only garnered excellent reviews but also resonated well with audiences, achieving a score of 92% from critics and 87% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes. The previews for 28 Years Later began at noon, and early tracking suggests that the movie could open between $28 million and $30 million, a solid performance for the franchise.
This latest installment marks a significant return for director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland, who previously collaborated on the classic 28 Days Later, released in 2002. The original film opened to $10 million across 1,261 theaters, while its sequel, 28 Weeks Later, directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, debuted with $9.8 million in 2007 at 2,303 theaters. This historical context adds depth to the excitement surrounding the new release.
Meanwhile, Disney/Pixar’s upcoming film Elio is also making waves, with preview earnings estimated between $2.5 million and $3 million after two nights. For reference, Pixar's summer 2023 feature, Elemental, earned $2.5 million in previews before achieving an $11.7 million Friday and a $29.6 million opening weekend. Elio is projected to finish its three-day opening between $20 million and $25 million.
While audience scores for Elio have yet to be released, critics have reacted positively, giving the film an impressive 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is stronger than Elemental's 73% rating. Despite Elemental achieving a high audience score of 93% and a solid A CinemaScore, Elio aims to carve out its own success in a challenging marketplace for original animation.
The hope is that Elio, directed by Adrian Molina, Madeline Sharafian, and Domee Shi, will replicate the success of Elemental and achieve a remarkable multiplier of 5x or more. Elemental concluded its domestic run with a substantial total of $154.4 million, setting a benchmark for Elio to aspire to.
