Don't Breathe headed to $22 million opening

UPDATE 08/27/16 Variety: Don't Breathe opens to $26.1 million.

The horror genre proves to be frighteningly reliable this season as “Don’t Breathe” is the latest scary flick to have an impressive box office showing. The film, from Sony and Screen Gems, earned $10 million on Friday at 3,051 locations, and is eyeing a $22 million opening weekend.

This strong opening for “Don’t Breathe” is especially successful considering its price tag of less than $10 million. The film was produced by Steve Bersh’s Stage Six Films and distributed and marketed by Screen Gems. It debuted at SXSW and screened at Comic-Con, and currently has an 87% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

“Don’t Breathe” is about three robbers in Detroit who target a man who they think is blind and helpless, but turns out to be anything but. It is directed by Fede Alvarez and stars Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovatto and Stephen Lang.

Horror projects have shown an uncanny ability to draw crowds this year — New Line’s “The Conjuring 2” has earned over $100 million domestically and $320 million worldwide, while the same studio’s “Lights Out” has brought in a global sum of $111 million. Universal’s “The Purge: Election Year” also broke the $100 million milestone worldwide.

[SOURCE:VARIETY]