The prequel to the “A Quiet Place” series, “A Quiet Place: Day One,” has made a strong debut, earning approximately $6.8 million in preview showings. This sets a new record for the franchise, surpassing the previous preview earnings of both “A Quiet Place” (2018) and “A Quiet Place Part II” (2021).
In comparison, “A Quiet Place: Day One” outperformed “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” which earned $6.6 million in previews and went on to achieve a $58.4 million opening weekend. If “Day One” continues this momentum, it could see an opening weekend north of $50 million.
On the other hand, New Line’s “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1” brought in around $800K during previews. While modest, this is expected for a film with an older-skewing audience that doesn’t typically flock to Thursday night previews.
“Inside Out 2,” another major release, added $11.2 million on Thursday, bringing its second-week total to $156.8 million and its overall earnings to nearly $412 million.
This weekend is shaping up to be lucrative at the box office. Last year’s leader during this same timeframe, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” pulled in $60.3 million over three days, leading to an overall weekend gross of $128.2 million. Projections suggest that this year’s box office total could surpass that.
Thursday Night Performance
Paramount’s “A Quiet Place: Day One” kicked off its previews at 3 PM on Thursday, easily surpassing the $4.3 million earned by the original film in 2018 and the $4.8 million earned by “A Quiet Place Part II” in 2021. Directed by Michael Sarnoski, this prequel delves into the origins of the ferocious aliens with hypersensitive hearing that descend upon New York City. The film stars Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, and Djimon Hounsou.
Reviews for “Day One” are positive, with an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, though slightly lower than its predecessors. Audience ratings and CinemaScore are anticipated soon, with the previous films receiving a B+ and an A- respectively.
Projections and Comparisons
With tracking estimates suggesting a $40 million+ opening weekend for “A Quiet Place: Day One,” its preview night performance indicates a potential front-loaded box office run, typical for genre films. For context, the first “A Quiet Place” film’s previews accounted for 23% of its $18.8 million Friday earnings, leading to a $50.2 million opening weekend. Similarly, “A Quiet Place Part II” saw previews make up 25% of its first Friday earnings of $19.3 million, culminating in a $47.5 million three-day total.
Meanwhile, Kevin Costner’s epic “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1” is projected to earn between $1 million and $1.5 million from previews, setting it on a path toward a potential $12 million opening weekend. Although critical reviews are mixed, with a 41% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s expected that this film will gain momentum over time, rather than relying on a strong opening weekend.
Dominance of ‘Inside Out 2’
Disney/Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” is poised to dominate the box office this weekend with projected earnings between $55 million and $60 million. Having crossed the $400 million mark on its 13th day of release, the film is on track to surpass $1 billion globally, joining an elite group of films that have achieved this milestone.
The box office is buzzing with activity, led by strong performances from major franchises and anticipated sequels. “A Quiet Place: Day One” is making waves with its record-setting preview earnings, while “Inside Out 2” continues to show impressive staying power. The coming days will reveal whether these films can maintain their momentum and achieve the projected box office milestones.
