The horror sequel “Black Phone 2” has claimed the top spot at the North American box office this weekend, raking in $26.5 million in ticket sales, as per studio estimates released on Sunday. This impressive performance not only outshines the original film’s $23.6 million debut but also provides a much-needed boost for Blumhouse, which has faced several setbacks this year, including the underwhelming performance of “M3GAN 2.0.”

While “Black Phone 2” met initial expectations, October’s cinema attendance remains sluggish, trailing last year’s figures by approximately 11%, according to Comscore. Despite this, the overall box office is still experiencing a 4% growth compared to last year. However, industry insiders believe that a major blockbuster capable of significantly energizing the market may not arrive until late November or December.

Released by Universal Pictures, “Black Phone 2” debuted in 3,411 theaters across North America, buoyed by favorable reviews. The sequel, arriving four years after the first film, reunites director Scott Derrickson with stars Ethan Hawke and Mason Thames. Exit polls reveal that 63% of the opening weekend audience were aged between 18 and 34, with Hispanic viewers making up the largest demographic at 39%, followed by Caucasians at 35%.

On the international front, “Black Phone 2” garnered an additional $15.5 million from 71 different markets, culminating in a global opening of $42 million, against a production budget reported to be $30 million.

The original “Black Phone” emerged as a surprise success for Universal and Blumhouse in 2021, at a time when theaters were gradually reopening post-pandemic. By the end of its theatrical run, the film had amassed over $161 million worldwide, far exceeding its $18 million production cost.

Blumhouse has had a rocky 2025, with a handful of duds including “Wolf Man” and “The Woman in the Yard.” But the once impenetrable horror hitmaker could be on the upswing again with a “Five Nights at Freddy’s” sequel coming in December. The first movie earned nearly $300 million worldwide.

“Black Phone 2” was also the only film to really break through this weekend, despite a slew of options playing in wide release including the R-rated Seth Rogen, Aziz Ansari and Keanu Reeves comedy “Good Fortune,” which opened in 2,990 locations to $6.2 million, and the expansion of the Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield drama “After the Hunt,” which made $1.6 million from 1,238 theaters.

“Tron: Ares” fell about 67% to $11.1 million in its second weekend in theaters, which was enough to snag second place on the charts. Globally it has now earned $103 million.

“Good Fortune,” which opened in third place, had mostly positive reviews on its side, but Ansari’s comedy with a side of social commentary did not drum up a lot of enthusiasm in its first weekend. With a B+ CinemaScore, though, it likely has a better chance in the coming weeks than the campus drama “After the Hunt,” which got a very poor C- score.

Next weekend audiences will get another batch of awards-hopefuls, including Yorgos Lanthimos’s latest Emma Stone collaboration “Bugonia” and the Bruce Springsteen biopic “Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere,” starring “The Bear’s” Jeremy Allen White.