‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ opens strong with $63m domestic but fails to beat predecessor’s record debut

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 has topped the domestic box office this weekend, pulling in an estimated $63 million according to early industry figures an undeniably strong launch, even if it fell short of the landmark opening set by its 2023 predecessor. The new instalment, which reunites stars Josh Hutcherson and Elizabeth Lail with director Emma Tammi and franchise creator Scott Cawthon, rolled out across 3,412 cinemas amid heavy anticipation from fans and scepticism from critics.

The film’s international performance added a further boost, generating an estimated $46 million overseas for a combined global opening of $109 million. Given its reported production budget of just $36 million, the sequel has already positioned itself as a financial success, even before its first full week in cinemas.

Yet in spite of these healthy numbers, the sequel failed to surpass the first film’s staggering $80 million domestic opening a record-breaking debut that redefined Halloween box office expectations in 2023. This time around, critical reviews have been scathing, contributing to a mixed narrative surrounding the film’s release. Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 has earned a mere 12% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 26 score on Metacritic, placing it firmly in the “generally unfavourable” category.

However, the divide between critics and audiences is just as striking as it was for the original. Fans have embraced the sequel enthusiastically, awarding it an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a respectable B grade from Cinemascore surveys. For a franchise built on cult appeal and internet fandom, this fan loyalty continues to overshadow critical disapproval.

While FNAF 2 dominated the top spot over the weekend, other major releases also posted notable figures. Disney’s Zootopia 2 took second place, adding an estimated $43 million to its already enormous worldwide total, now approaching $915 million. The animated hit opened over Thanksgiving with more than $156 million domestically during its extended holiday debut, far eclipsing its domestic tally with equally impressive overseas revenue. Analysts believe Zootopia 2 could soon become the year’s second billion-dollar film, following the success of Disney’s earlier blockbuster Lilo & Stitch.

Meanwhile, Wicked: For Good held onto third place, although with a significant drop from its explosive Thanksgiving performance. The musical fantasy earned about $15.6 million over the weekend after previously pulling in $91 million across the holiday’s five-day span.

Despite trailing the original film’s historic debut, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 has demonstrated the enduring commercial strength of the franchise. Its modest budget, strong fan base and solid international showing suggest that Universal Pictures will once again be pleased with its box office haul even in the face of critical rejection.

The forthcoming weeks will determine whether the film maintains its momentum or experiences the sharp second-week drop often associated with front-loaded horror releases. But for now, FNAF 2 can claim victory at the top of the domestic box office, proving that the animatronic horror saga still has the power to draw crowds, even when the reviews are far from favourable