Half a century after the original, the sequel to The Exorcist climbs to the top of the American box office with revenues of $27.2 million in its first weekend in theaters, according to data published Sunday by the specialist firm Exhibitor Relations. The Exorcist – Devotion recorded a “good first weekend for a sequel to a horror film” and this, despite the rather mixed reviews for this production, underlined the firm’s analyst, David A. Gross.
Like the original, the film revolves around characters possessed by supernatural forces, with faces covered in wounds, against the backdrop of a sometimes anxiety-provoking soundtrack and with an appearance by Ellen Burstyn from the 1973 production. Devotion was to haunt the screens from Friday October 13, but Universal Studios has brought forward its release so as not to have to face the film of pop megastar Taylor Swift on her Eras world tour scheduled for the same weekend.
Pre-sales of tickets for this film on Swift’s tour have already exceeded $100 million worldwide, theater operator AMC announced Thursday.
By taking the lead at the box office, The Exorcist – Devotion relegates the new part of the adventures of the PAW Patrol puppies to second place, which collected $11.8 million from Friday to Sunday. American actor and comedian Chris Rock and former tennis champion Serena Williams lend their voices to the super-powered dog characters in this animated film.
Then follow in order another horror film, Saw X, with its 8.2 million dollars in revenue and rather positive reviews; the science fiction thriller The Creator with 6.1 million and The Blind about the inner struggles of reality TV star Phil Robertson.
Here is the rest of the Top 10:
6. Mystery in Venice (2.7 million)
7. The Nun – II (2.6 million)
8. Dumb Money (2,2 millions)
9. The Equalizer 3 (1,8 million)
10. Hocus Pocus: 30th Anniversary (1.5 million)
