Despite weather challenges from Hurricane Francine in Louisiana, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is holding strong at the box office. The highly anticipated sequel, directed by Tim Burton and released by Warner Bros., is projected to take in a solid $44 million in its second weekend. That would make it the second-biggest second weekend in September, trailing only It, which set a record with $60.1 million during the same period.
The momentum for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice continued into Tuesday, pulling in $9 million — the second-best Tuesday in September box office history, just behind 2017’s It ($11.4M). With a current domestic haul of $126.1 million, it’s tracking slightly behind It by about 12%, a film that went on to gross $327.4 million in its initial run.
Weather Concerns and Theater Closures
While Hurricane Francine, now downgraded to a tropical storm, briefly impacted theaters across Louisiana, the disruption is expected to be minimal. About 20 cinemas in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas were forced to close, but most are reopening today as the storm weakens. The expectation is that this won’t significantly impact the box office performance of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
The Competition: ‘Speak No Evil’ and ‘The Killer’s Game’
Going up against the star-studded Beetlejuice sequel is Blumhouse/Universal’s horror-thriller, Speak No Evil. The film, with a budget of $15 million, stars James McAvoy as the unsettling head of a bizarre family hosting an unsuspecting American couple. Directed by James Watkins and based on the 2022 Danish horror film Gæsterne, the movie has garnered critical praise, currently boasting an impressive 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite the positive reception, Speak No Evil is expected to open with a more modest $10 million across 3,200 theaters.
Lionsgate’s The Killer’s Game, an action-comedy featuring Dave Bautista as a hitman with a terminal diagnosis, is also hitting screens this weekend. In the movie, Bautista’s character takes out a hit on himself, only to find himself dodging the very assassins he hired while trying to save his ex-girlfriend. Despite its quirky premise and some early positive reviews, the film is expected to deliver a lower box office return, with projections around $5 million from 2,500 theaters. The movie marks the first of several planned releases from Lionsgate in the coming months.
A Lesser Entry: ‘Am I Racist?’
Also vying for audience attention is the politically charged comedy-documentary, Am I Racist?, produced by The Daily Wire and directed by Justin Folk. This film follows right-wing commentator Matt Walsh as he conducts undercover social experiments, exploring diversity and inclusion initiatives in a satirical light. With a more limited release of 1,500 locations, it’s expected to land in the single-digit millions, likely appealing to a more niche audience.
The Box Office Battle
Though Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is facing some competition this weekend, its strong early performance and continued audience interest position it as the dominant player at the box office. With $44 million expected in its second weekend, the film should comfortably outpace other new releases, reinforcing Tim Burton’s enduring appeal and cementing its place as one of September’s biggest hits.
Meanwhile, while Speak No Evil and The Killer’s Game offer intriguing alternatives for audiences seeking different genres, neither seems poised to disrupt the runaway success of Burton’s latest spectacle.
