Hollywood has a long history of adapting video games, and the latest talk is about the film adaptation of the popular video game series, Five Nights at Freddy’s. After eight years of planning, director changes, and script revisions, the film starring Josh Hutcherson has finally been released. In fact, the movie ended up breaking a huge record right before Christmas.
Five Nights at Freddy’s had absolutely no hype or expectations surrounding it for good reason, considering the reputation of video game adaptations over the past couple of decades. Therefore, it’s a major surprise just how successful it turned out to be, that too on a small budget.
Five Nights at Freddy’s Set A Major Record Right Before Christmas
In 2023, Josh Hutcherson‘s Five Nights at Freddy’s achieved the best opening weekend for a horror movie, marking Blumhouse’s top opening, surpassing Halloween’s $76.2 million. The day-and-date opening weekend was the second-best ever, following Black Widow’s $80.3 million in 2021. In fact, it secured the second-highest opening for a video game movie, trailing behind The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s $146.4 million April debut.
According to The Hollywood Handle, the film finished its theatrical run with a worldwide Box Office gross of $294,194,303 just before Christmas. Not only is it Blumhouse’s top-grossing film to date, but it also holds the title of the highest-grossing horror movie of the 2020s. Needless to say, the film surpassed all expectations in a major way.
Deserved, we love faz father
— AmbitiousEnvelope395 (@BumberDavid) December 24, 2023
In only two months?! What? Okay. I think that's just US and no where else from now.
— Kristie the Magicanimal (Comms and Adopts Open) (@Magical_kristie) December 24, 2023
THATS MY GOAT
— 💛❤️💙🤍treystar679 (FNAF MOVIE HYPE) (@treystar679) December 24, 2023
Right up there with the Mario movie for my top two favorite video game movies.
Wow if it was only in theaters then it would've made like $300,000,000
— Sean Lia (@SeanLia4) December 24, 2023
That's insane
— Curious George (@cgeorge109) December 24, 2023
‘FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S’ ended its theatrical run earning $294,194,303.
— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) December 24, 2023
It’s not only Blumhouse’s highest grossing movie of all time but also the highest grossing horror movie of 2020s. pic.twitter.com/4pinXhF2E2
Josh Hutcherson Was Ecstatic About Five Nights At Freddy’s
Josh Hutcherson’s breakthrough role came as Peeta in the Hunger Games films, and Five Nights at Freddy’s helped his career grow even more. With a modest $20 million budget, the film already broke records as we established above.
Director Emma Tammi shared Hutcherson’s enthusiasm for the project with NBC Insider, noting his excitement about the franchise’s elements and animatronics. She highlighted his authentic portrayal of the character Mike and his engagement on a deeper level with the role.
“He was so excited about the franchise and the animatronics and the really fun elements of Five Nights at Freddy’s. But he was also engaged on a deeper character level and did such an authentic job of portraying Mike.”
Five Nights at Freddy’s has truly gone to show that video game movies no longer have the stigma that they once did and now more and more companies will want to make movie adaptations of video games in the future.
