‘A Quiet Place’ Prequel Box Office Speaks Volumes as Costner’s Western

At the box office, "A Quiet Place: Day One" is generating a lot of buzz. According to studio estimates released on Sunday, the prequel made an estimated $53 million in its first weekend of release in North American cinemas.

It's far better than expected and the finest in the franchise. Prerelease tracking for "Day One" predicted a $40 million opening weekend, but viewers were obviously more excited to see the action-horror film, which was distributed by Paramount and starred Lupita Nyong'o and Joseph Quinn. Kevin Costner's "Horizon: An American Saga—Chapter 1," which debuted at a $11 million box office, was not as fortunate.

However, the triumph in "Quiet Place" wasn't nearly enough to take the coveted top spot on the charts. That title went to Disney and Pixar's massive hit "Inside Out 2," which surpassed $1 billion worldwide and added an estimated $57.4 million in its third weekend in cinemas.

There's a slim chance that the locations may change on Monday when the actuals are made public. In any case, the news is encouraging for movie theaters as the summer season finally heats up, albeit it's still well under pre-pandemic standards (down 36% from 2019) and last year (down 19%).

The movie office phenomena that is "Inside Out 2" is unlike anything the industry has seen since "Barbie" about a year ago. It has made around $470 million in North America and $545.5 million elsewhere in just three weeks after its debut, increasing its total earnings to $1.01 billion worldwide. The follow-up is the only 2024 release to reach the $1 billion milestone, and it did so in a record-breaking 19 days for an animated movie.

Michael O'Leary, president and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners, said in a statement that "the film's stunning global success once again illustrates that audiences the world over will respond to compelling, entertaining movies and that they want to enjoy them on the big screen."

Michael Sarnoski's PG-13 film "A Quiet Place: Day One" is likewise quickly reaching a significant milestone right out of the gate. The $67 million production has now grossed $98.5 million, including the $45.5 million from its worldwide runs in 59 locations.

"The 'A Quiet Place' franchise is highly cherished," stated Chris Aronson, Paramount's head of domestic distribution. "We paid attention to the fans' requests to broaden the universe."

It launched higher than both "A Quiet Place" ($50.2 million opening in April 2018) and "A Quiet Place: Part II" ($47.5 million launching in May 2021), which is an uncommon accomplishment for a third picture. Producer John Krasinski, who wrote and directed the first two, stayed on.

According to Comscore senior media researcher Paul Dergarabedian, "it's one of those rare horror franchises that has generated incredible goodwill with audiences and critics alike."

Playing on 3,708 screens across the United States and Canada, "premium screens," such as IMAX and other big formats, accounted for roughly 40% of its domestic revenue. Reviewers rated it a B+ CinemaScore and four out of five stars on PostTrak, while 84% of Rotten Tomatoes users gave it a good review when it first came out.

Aronson remarked, "I think it shows people want to go to the movies, but we also put together a compelling package." "When there are options and something for everyone, the market really works."

In contrast, "Horizon" had a slow beginning. The path ahead won't be simple, even if older audiences—who are most likely to support a Western epic—don't usually rush to theaters on opening weekend the way people frequently do for horror and superhero movies. It has received unfavorable reviews and a B- CinemaScore.

For "Horizon," a $100 million film that Costner independently financed and collaborated with Warner Bros. to release, the stakes are perhaps a bit higher. It made its debut in 3,334 places. His passion project spanned decades, and in order to finance it, he took out a mortgage on a Santa Barbara, California house and left "Yellowstone." In an audacious, non-traditional move, "Chapter 2" opens in cinemas on August 16 of this year. He intends to do two more films as well.

According to Dergarabedian, "the western genre is one of those that is very specific." "The long game will be the focus."

A cursory look at the top 10 reveals that franchises and "known commodities" are often preferred above original content by viewers. "Horizon" topped the rankings, closely followed by "Bad Boys: Ride or Die," which has been playing in cinemas for four weeks.

According to Dergarabedian, "summer audiences want the tried and true, they want the familiar."

The variety of genres represented in the top 10 also caught his attention. Two Indian films made it there: the sci-fi Telugu picture "Kalki 2898 AD," which came in at number five with $5.4 million, and the Punjabi comedy "Jatt & Juliet 3," which came in at number nine with $1.5 million.

"If you can’t find something that appeals to you at the multiplex right now, you’re not looking hard enough," Dergarabedian stated.

Comscore estimates the number of tickets sold at American and Canadian theaters from Friday through Sunday. On Monday, the final domestic numbers will be disclosed.

1. "Inside Out 2" brought in $57.4 million.

2. "Day One of A Quiet Place," $53 million.

3. "Chapter 1 of Horizon: An American Saga," $11 million.

4. "Ride or Die, Bad Boys." $10.3 million.

5. The $5.4 million film "Kalki 2898 AD."

6. The $3.3 million film "The Bikeriders."

7. The $2 million film "The Garfield Movie."

8. "The Planet of the Apes: A Kingdom," $168.1 million.

9. "Juliet & Tatt III," $1.5 million.

10. "Kindness in Kinds" $1.5 million.