M. Night Shyamalan directed the film which is tracking for a $15 million to $17 million opening weekend
M. Night Shyamalan‘s
“The Visit” began terrorizing eager audiences on Thursday night, and
raked in $1 million from previews that started running in 2,206
locations.
The Universal release cost $5 million to make, and had
previously been tracking for a $15 million to $17 million opening
weekend.
Critics are praising it as his directorial comeback after his pricey disappointments, “The Last Airbender” and “After Earth.” The Blumhouse horror movie — about two kids (Olivia DeJonge and Ed Oxenbould) who discover something strange happens to their creepy grandparents after 9:30 at night — has gotten a 65 percent “fresh” approval rating from critics counted on Rotten Tomatoes.
Shyamalan’s films have never opened below $18 million — some of his films, such as 2002’
“Signs” and 2004’s “The Village” opened to $60.1 million and $50.7
million, respectively. The director was also responsible for “The Sixth
Sense” and “The Happening.”
Jason Blum produced alongside Shyamalan, and Steven Schneider executive produced.
“The Visit” will be competing against Sony/Screen Gem’s thriller “The Perfect Guy,” starring Sanaa Lathan, Michael Ealy
and Morris Chestnut. It follows a recently broken up with girl who
falls for a stranger, only to discover that he isn’t quite who he seems.
It is tracking for a box office return
around the same as “The Visit,” but had a higher budget of $12 million.
It is directed by David M. Rosenthal and written by Alan B. McElroy and
Tyger Williams.
Sony decided not to have Thursday night showings for “The Perfect Guy.”
