The Highs and Lows of ‘The Exorcist: Believer’s’ Box Office Run
This weekend, ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ managed a small but significant feat. The film finally hit the magic number of $100 million in global box office collections, sending some champagne corks popping over at Universal Pictures. The reboot, in theaters for just over two weeks, also surpassed the $50 million benchmark in the domestic box office. However, the celebrations may be a bit muted.
“It’s nowhere near the king’s ransom that Universal shelled out for the rights to the franchise,”
Indeed, Universal reportedly paid a staggering $400 million for the rights to ‘The Exorcist’ franchise, and with that kind of investment, expectations were high.
The Costs and Gains: More Than Just Theatrical Releases
It’s not all about box office numbers for Universal. The $30 million production budget for ‘Believer’ has been recovered, making the film profitable in a narrow sense. But the studio has grand plans:
“Of course, this allows the studio to monetize the series beyond theatrical movies, of which it has two more lined up. The Exorcist: Deceiver has already been dated for 2025.”
Yes, the universe of ‘The Exorcist’ will extend beyond the big screen, so that $400 million could eventually turn out to be money well-spent.
Falling Short of a Stellar Legacy
Despite these gains, the reboot has its issues. Directed by David Gordon Green, known for his recent ‘Halloween‘ reboots, the film received less than stellar reviews. Critics were not kind, and neither were the opening weekend numbers.
“It grossed $26 million in its opening weekend, and then registered a hefty 59% drop in weekend two.”
Nostalgia Versus Reality: The Ghost of the Original Looms Large
In terms of franchise history, ‘Believer’ did respectable business. With a running global total of $107 million, it’s become the second-biggest installment of the series. But let’s face it, the movie still languishes in the massive shadow of its 1973 predecessor.
“While this is enough to make it the second-biggest installment of the franchise, it’s nowhere near the staggering $440 million that the original Exorcist grossed in 1973.”
Adjusted for inflation, the original movie’s earnings translate to about $2 billion in today’s money. That’s a daunting figure for any sequel to live up to, let alone one that brought back the original film’s star, Ellen Burstyn, and franchise newcomer Leslie Odom Jr.
Time for a Rethink?
The lukewarm reception of ‘Believer’ could be a sign for Universal to go back to the drawing board. The next installment, ‘The Exorcist: Deceiver,’ is set for a 2025 release. With time on their hands and lessons to be learned, there’s an opportunity for Universal to right the ship and deliver something truly hair-raising.
“But considering the critical and commercial performance of Believer, the studio might want to consider going back to the drawing board.”
In the Final Analysis
While hitting the $100 million mark is an achievement worth acknowledging, ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ has a long way to go before it can claim to have justified Universal’s massive investment. With mixed reviews and a box office performance that has yet to set the world on fire, one has to wonder: Will the power of the dollar compel Universal to take a different approach for the next installment?
Given the weighty legacy of the original, the stakes couldn’t be higher. But for now, ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ serves as a cautionary tale in rebooting a classic: it’s not enough to simply bring back the old demons; you’ve got to give the audience a reason to believe.
