Heading into the weekend, I had a blast reading all the box office reports, especially the ones that declared Ghostbusters: Afterlife (read our review) a failure even before it opened.
Early tracking for the brand new Ghostbusters was targeting $28M-$35M, and because the estimates were less than the 2016 remake directed by Paul Feig (it opened to $46M domestically), several writers lamented Afterlife a massive bomb and the former a huge success. L.O.L. Yeah, that’s why Sony Pictures rushed to make a sequel…
Digressing, Ghostbusters: Afterlife had a massive opening, overperforming with a ridiculous $44M domestic and $16M international for a $60M global estimate.
This is likely powered by the astounding A- CinemaScore that Bloody Disgusting is hearing will be announced in the coming days. While critics were mixed – some even smashed it – fans showed up in droves and most likely resurrected this franchise from the grave. Ghostbusters: New Life is more like it.
As I wrote late last week, if the reports are accurate, Ghostbusters (2016) had an obscene $144M budget. Add in the marketing costs and the film actually lost money in its theatrical run. Ghostbusters: Afterlife has a reportedly more modest $75M budget, which means that it needs drastically less at the box office to break even.
Sony set the new film up for success, which should be important for fans of any franchise. With this opening, expect more ‘Busting.
*Spoilers* There’s a Surprising Cameo in Ghostbusters: Afterlife