Movies
A ‘Paranormal’ Sequel Possible at Paramount
While the project was originally intended to be a remake, Paramount Pictures took the chance with the original $15k indie film and has won at the box office. While fan reactions are certainly mixed on Paranormal Activity, Paramount recognizes the franchise potential and a sequel could be in development soon. You can read all about it beyond the break.
In an article over at the LA Times they report that Paramount Chairman Brad Grey said in an interview over the weekend that a sequel to PARANORMAL ACTIVITY is very possible. “We have the rights on a worldwide basis to do ‘Paranormal 2’ and we’re looking to see if that makes some sense.”
Costing only $15k ($11k depending who you ask), why wouldn’t Paramount jump on the crazy train and develop a sequel? I have a suggestion, why not find filmmakers who scoff at ACTIVITY and dare them to make something better with the same amount of money? I love a good challenge.
The LA Times also adds that “Paramount has an extra reason to make a sequel to PARANORMAL ACTIVITY beyond trying to duplicate its success: Although the studio has only domestic rights to the current film, it would have worldwide rights to a follow-up, Grey noted.”
Movies
‘Abigail’ on Track for a Better Opening Weekend Than Universal’s Previous Two Vampire Attempts
In the wake of Leigh Whannell’s Invisible Man back in 2020, Universal has been struggling to achieve further box office success with their Universal Monsters brand. Even in the early days of the pandemic, Invisible Man scared up $144 million at the worldwide box office, while last year’s Universal Monsters: Dracula movies The Last Voyage of the Demeter and Renfield didn’t even approach that number when you COMBINE their individual box office hauls.
The horror-comedy Renfield came along first in April 2023, ending its run with just $26 million. The period piece Last Voyage of the Demeter ended its own run with a mere $21 million.
But Universal is trying again with their ballerina vampire movie Abigail this weekend, the latest bloodbath directed by the filmmakers known as Radio Silence (Ready or Not, Scream).
Unlike Demeter and Renfield, the early reviews for Abigail are incredibly strong, with our own Meagan Navarro calling the film “savagely inventive in terms of its vampiric gore,” ultimately “offering a thrill ride with sharp, pointy teeth.” Read her full review here.
That early buzz – coupled with some excellent trailers – should drive Abigail to moderate box office success, the film already scaring up $1 million in Thursday previews last night. Variety notes that Abigail is currently on track to enjoy a $12 million – $15 million opening weekend, which would smash Renfield ($8 million) and Demeter’s ($6 million) opening weekends.
Working to Abigail‘s advantage is the film’s reported $28 million production budget, making it a more affordable box office bet for Universal than the two aforementioned movies.
Stay tuned for more box office reporting in the coming days.
In Abigail, “After a group of would-be criminals kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, all they have to do to collect a $50 million ransom is watch the girl overnight. In an isolated mansion, the captors start to dwindle, one by one, and they discover, to their mounting horror, that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl.”
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