Don’t Breathe scares up a $26 million opening weekend

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

I'm always glad to see it when a horror movie hits #1 at the weekend box office, regardless of whether or not I'm interested in seeing that particular horror movie in the theatre. It is even better when it's a movie I'm rooting for, though, so I was very happy to see that Fede Alvarez's home invasion horror DON'T BREATHE opened at #1 this past weekend, dethroning three week champ SUICIDE SQUAD with $26.1 million, a number that far exceeded even distributor Screen Gems' expectations.

In addition to the monetary success, DON'T BREATHE has also performed exceptionally well with critics, scoring an 86% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Our own Jake Dee gave the film a 9/10 review. It earned a B+ CinemaScore from opening day audiences.

Made for just under $10 million, DON'T BREATHE could end up making 55 to 65 million dollars domestically if its legs hold up as its theatrical run continues.

Produced by Sam Raimi and directed by EVIL DEAD 2013's Fede Alvarez, who also wrote the screenplay with Rodo Sayagues, DON'T BREATHE tells the following story: 

Three teens who get away with perfectly planned home robberies have set their sights on one last payout that will get them out of crime forever. Their target: a reclusive blind man with millions of dollars in hiding. But as soon as they break into his home, the tables are turned and they find themselves trapped and fighting for survival against a psychopath with secrets of his own.

Jane Levy, Daniel Zovatto, Dylan Minnette, and Stephen Lang star.