It’s always said that film adaptations of video games aren’t successful. Not only are they considered cinematic disasters with low quality, but they also fail to draw audiences to theaters. However, this year both Mario and Sonic have proven this notion wrong. Yet, many might argue that they still need to show they can sell outside the family market. For those individuals, there’s news that will disappoint them greatly. Because the surprise hit of the year is a horror movie adapting a video game.
Five Nights at Freddy’s, the incredibly popular horror video game franchise by Scott Cawthon, has not only been a tremendous box office success but has also become the biggest hit in the history of its production company, Blumhouse.
While its debut set a record in its opening weekend, it’s now solidified its position as Blumhouse’s most successful film. Specifically, Five Nights at Freddy’s has grossed around $136 million in the USA and nearly $147 million elsewhere globally, reaching a staggering total box office figure of approximately $283 million. This sum is astounding for a mid-budget production, surpassing the previous record of the studio held by M. Night Shyamalan’s Split, which grossed $278.4 million during its theatrical run.
These figures might seem relatively modest to those accustomed only to Disney and Warner’s numbers. However, they are anything but modest for an independent horror film production company like Blumhouse. Especially considering that Five Nights at Freddy’s cost just around twenty million dollars to make, turning out to be an absolutely lucrative venture.
Considering it’s still in theaters and has only just started selling in home formats in some markets, it’s expected that this figure will continue to grow over time. But what’s evident is that the era when video game movies didn’t sell is no longer ours.
