The Boogeyman has earned the highest opening weekend for a Stephen King movie in years. Based on the King short story of the same name, the Rob Savage film follows a family who is tormented by a mysterious entity who lurks in the darkness of their home. The Boogeyman cast includes Sophie Thatcher, Chris Messina, Vivien Lyra Blair, and David Dastmalchian.
Per Deadline, The Boogeyman has opened somewhat below its original projections of between $15 million and $17 million. Its 3-day projections are now set at $11.5 million thanks to the overwhelming attention being received by its box office competition Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. However, this still provides the film with the best opening weekend for a Stephen King project since the Shining sequel Doctor Sleep earned a $14.1 million opening in late 2019.
Part of the reason that The Boogeyman's lukewarm box office is still his best in years is that some of the most prominent recent King projects haven't even opened in theaters. The Boogeyman's theatrical competition in the 2020s has been limited to the largely derided Firestarter and Children of the Corn remakes, whereas streaming and television have still found successes based on his works. This includes the 2022 Netflix film Mr. Harrigan's Phone, which didn't have a theatrical release, and HBO's hit 2020 miniseries The Outsider.
However, there are other Stephen King franchise movies coming to theaters that could very well make more of a splash in the near future. For instance, while the promised new Salem's Lot film continues to be delayed, it may have a shot at the brass ring when it finally lands (presuming it doesn't go directly to streaming). That film, which was directed by It's Gary Dauberman, stars Top Gun: Maverick's Lewis Pullman with Alfre Woodard and Spencer Treat Clark.
There are much more secure successes in the offing as well. This includes the next King adaptation from Gerald's Game and Doctor Sleep director Mike Flanagan, the Mark Hamill and Tom Hiddleston-starring The Life of Chuck. That will most likely be the next project to unseat The Boogeyman, but given the preponderance of King adaptations in the works, the 2020s could be seeing an upswing in King's theatrical prospects very soon.
Source: Deadline