Scott Derrickson directed The Black Phone, which stars Ethan Hawke as a masked serial killer who kidnaps and torments a teenage boy.
The Black Phone opened in fourth place with $23.3 million from 3,150 North American cinemas. Overseas, the movie collected $13.4 million from 45 territories, taking its returns to $35.8 million globally.
The horror movie cost only $18 million to produce, putting it on a path to profitability.
Moviegoers and critics have responded enthusiastically, giving the film a “B+” CinemaScore and 84% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Franchise Entertainment Research’s Gross says, ”By keeping costs low, including efficient, targeted marketing, Blumhouse rarely misses. The Black Phone’ is the kind of film that streamers have not been able to make — high-profile, exciting, profitable on its own terms, and cheap.
