Since its release just before Christmas, Avatar: Fire and Ash has dominated the box office. The movie is on track to earn over $1 billion worldwide and has been the number one film for four weekends straight – something only Barbie had done previously. While this is a strong performance, it’s typical for the Avatar series – the first two films each stayed at number one for seven weekends. Although many wondered if Fire and Ash could match that record, current estimates suggest it won’t quite reach it.
The new horror movie, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, is expected to earn between $20 and $22 million in the U.S. over the Martin Luther King Day weekend, according to Variety. This would mean it surpasses the projected $12-14 million earnings for Avatar: Fire and Ash during the same holiday period.
Can 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Exceed Box Office Projections?
Predicting how well movies will do in theaters is more difficult than ever now that people’s habits have changed since the pandemic. Last year’s horror movies offer a good example: several, including Sinners, Final Destination: Bloodlines, and The Conjuring: Last Rites, performed much better than expected—some even broke box office records. Because horror films continue to be popular with audiences, it’s reasonable to ask if 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple can keep this success going in the new year.
Last summer’s release of 28 Years Later earned $30 million domestically during its opening weekend, a new record for the series. Current projections for The Bone Temple are significantly lower, and one reason could be the short time between the two films. 28 Years Later was the first new movie in the 28 Days Later series in almost 20 years, creating a lot of excitement. The Bone Temple, however, arrived just a few months later. Because of the long wait, general audiences likely saw 28 Years Later as a much bigger cinematic event. Additionally, summer is typically a more popular time to go to the movies than mid-January.
Despite some challenges, The Bone Temple has several strengths that could lead to better-than-expected box office numbers. The film has received very positive reviews, earning the highest Rotten Tomatoes score of any movie in the 28 Days Later series. Critics have especially praised the direction by Nia DaCosta and the performances from Ralph Fiennes and Jack O’Connell. It’s unusual for a January release to get this much critical acclaim, and combined with the excitement surrounding the story, it suggests audiences may turn out in large numbers. The film also isn’t facing strong competition, as other recent releases like Greenland 2: Migration didn’t perform particularly well in their opening weeks.
Even if The Bone Temple doesn’t become a blockbuster, it will still be a successful film. With a budget of $63 million, a $22 million opening weekend in the US is a good start, and that doesn’t even include earnings from other countries. The movie isn’t expected to fail, which justifies Sony’s decision to move forward with a third film in the 28 Years Later series.
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2026-01-14 22:10