The horror sequel '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' has kicked off its box office run with a chilling $2.1 million in preview screenings on Thursday afternoon, setting the stage for a thrilling weekend. But here's where it gets interesting: despite this impressive start, it's a quieter opening compared to its predecessor, which debuted with $5.8 million last summer, boosted by the Juneteenth holiday.
As the sole major studio release this MLK weekend, 'The Bone Temple' is projected to gross between $20-22 million over four days, going head-to-head with 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' in its fifth weekend. The original '28 Years Later' opened to a robust $30 million in June 2025, with a $14.4 million Friday and previews. This time, the franchise welcomes a new director, Nia DaCosta, known for her work on 'Candyman', taking over from Danny Boyle.
Demographically, the first film attracted an audience that was 75% over 25 years old and predominantly male (62%). Men over 25 made up nearly half of the viewers, while women over 25 accounted for 37%, the second-largest demographic group.
'The Bone Temple' has critics raving, with a stunning 94% approval rating, and audiences are equally enthusiastic, giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars on PostTrak.
Now, let's dive into the rest of the box office top 5 for the week:
- 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' continues its reign, earning $28.9 million in its fourth week, bringing its total to $350 million.
- 'The Housemaid', directed by Paul Feig, is close to a domestic milestone, grossing $15.6 million in its fourth week for a total of $98.6 million.
- 'Primate' swings into theaters with a solid $14.5 million debut.
- 'Zootopia 2' holds strong in its seventh week, adding $12.4 million to its impressive $381.2 million total.
- 'Marty Supreme' wraps up the top 5, earning $10.9 million in its fourth week, reaching a total of $73.4 million.
And this is the part that sparks debate: with 'The Bone Temple' taking on a beloved franchise, will it live up to the original's success? Is it a worthy successor, or does it fall short of expectations? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
