'Five Nights at Freddy’s 2' is the Box Office Powerhouse That Critics Love to Hate | Weekend of December 5, 2025
In the movie business, there’s occasionally a truly jarring disconnect between critical reception and commercial success. Case in point: Five Nights at Freddy's 2, which outperformed early forecasts and claimed the top spot at the box office this weekend.
The Blumhouse Productions horror sequel, directed by Emma Tammi and written by franchise creator Scott Cawthon, captured 41% of total admissions and box office revenue despite being burdened with a devastating 12% on Rotten Tomatoes.
With returning stars Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, and Piper Rubio joined by newcomers including Skeet Ulrich and Mckenna Grace, the sequel reunites Ulrich with his Scream co-star Matthew Lillard in what one Variety critic says feels like a “network-TV version of a horror film, with the good parts cut out." Ouch.
But harsh reviews can’t keep Freddy down. The film marks the biggest December opening for a horror film since 1997's Scream 2, proving that a passionate fanbase and great social media buzz can overcome even the harshest critical consensus. A creative marketing trick has also spurred chatter online—try Googling the film's title and see who's watching over the results...
A tale of two compilations
Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution, the latest film in the Jujutsu Kaisen franchise, landed in the top 4 for admissions. The film’s format, a compilation of season two of the television show with a preview of season three, likely contributed to a lower-than-expected opening, as anime sequels often outperform their predecessors.
At 6% of admissions and box office sales, Execution serves more as a bridge to maintain fan excitement before Season 3's January premiere rather than the franchise-defining theatrical event that Jujutsu Kaisen 0 represented.
Quentin Tarantino’s long-anticipated combined director’s cut, Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair, finally hit theaters in a limited release of just over 1,100 locations. Even with the tighter footprint compared to Five Nights at Freddy's 2's 3,400+ theaters, it drew strong interest.
The film received excellent reviews—both from Rotten Tomatoes and a rare A+ Cinemascore, which is especially notable given the film’s length (4 hours and 35 minutes!) and arguably niche appeal.
Expect it to continue to play well among cinephiles and Tarantino loyalists through the holiday time frame. Paul Dano, however, probably won’t be buying a ticket.
Is star power enough to boost 'Ella McCay'’s opening weekend?
This upcoming weekend features a single major release: Ella McCay, directed by James L. Brooks and starring Emma Mackey, Jamie Lee Curtis, Woody Harrelson, Rebecca Hall, and Albert Brooks. The cast is impressive, though early reviews have been mixed, suggesting it may open modestly before relying on adult-audience traction through the holidays.
A Christmas Day competition for top spot
A biographical musical drama from director Craig Brewer, Song Sung Blue tells the real-life story of Mike (Hugh Jackman) and Claire Sardina (Kate Hudson), Milwaukee-based musicians who formed the Neil Diamond tribute band Lightning & Thunder.
Early reviews are strong, with Mashable praising the film as "uplifting, heart-wrenching, and wondrous all at once."
Meanwhile, Josh Safdie returns with his first solo directorial outing minus his brother Benny. Marty Supreme follows Marty Mauser (Timotheé Chalamet), a brash ping-pong hustler working in a 1950s Lower East Side shoe store whose ambitions extend far beyond table tennis.
Loosely inspired by ping-pong pioneer Marty Reisman, the film chronicles Marty's journey from local hustler to his quest for international recognition, complicated by romantic entanglements and risky business deals. The actor called it potentially "the best performance" of his career, noting the film carries the same "chaotic energy" as the Safdies' Uncut Gems.
With diverse offerings and strong star power across the board, the final stretch of December is sure to attract every segment of the moviegoing audience. All indicators point to a solid close to 2025, with broad mass appeal fueling momentum into the new year. Early indications are for a fantastic 2026, with predictions of the box office bringing in $9.5B.
How The People Platform's audience measurements can help drive insights
- How many tickets will be sold this coming weekend? Find out on our next Cinema Ranker and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date with the cinema industry.
- To learn more about The People Platform's Audience Measurement, click here.
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