To say I’m surprised about this past weekend’s box office numbers would be a bit of a lie. Horror is hot. Why? Because teens and preteens like going to see them. PG-13 horror is hot. Why? Because teens and preteens can get into them without needing parental supervision or permission. Movies about high school and the prom? Even hotter. Simply observe the bizarre obsession with the HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL movies. So a movie called PROM NIGHT that contains all of these elements? No duh it would kill at the box office.
Not to say I, or any self-respecting horror fan, is happy about. For one, using the same name and the same simple premise, does not equal a remake! From all accounts, it’s not a remake, just another horror movie with the same name.
But most importantly, this means that we can expect more shitty PG-13 “horror” movies on the way like this, because let’s face it, they’re box office gold, and the movie industry is a business just like any other.
This weekend spelled a big “bummer” on another horror front, with the R rated horror show THE RUINS dropping like a decapitated corpse, making less than 50% from what it made last weekend. A drop like that means that, if it’s lucky, it might hit $20M after its full theatrical run… if it’s lucky. Hell, PROM NIGHT made more than that in it’s first three days of release!
So what does this mean? Expect less bloody horror movies that feature lots of screaming, lots of swearing, a boob shot or two, and lots of death and torture, and more “horror” movies featuring a clean cast, no blood, no T&A, and weak-sauce “boo” scares. Lame, lame, and more lame!
Check out the full box office take below, and if you saw PROM NIGHT over THE RUINS this past weekend, then shame-shame know your name!
1. Prom Night $ 22.7 Million
2. Street Kings $ 12 Million
3. 21 $ 11 Million
4. Nim’s Island $ 9 Million
5. Leatherheads $ 6.2 Million
6. Horton Hears a Who $ 6 Million
7. Smart People $ 4.2 Million
8. The Ruins $ 3.3 Million
9. Superhero Movie $ 3.1 Million
10. Drillbit Taylor $ 2.1 Million