Sony's supernatural comedy sequel Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is set to hit theaters with high hopes of thawing out the box office. Despite recent releases like Dune: Part Two and Kung Fu Panda 4 boosting attendance at cinemas, overall revenues are still trailing 10% behind last year's numbers.
The latest installment in the Ghostbusters franchise is aiming to rake in between $43 million to $45 million from its domestic box office debut across 4,300 theaters. This target aligns closely with the opening figures of its predecessor, 2021's Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which brought in $44 million as theaters were recovering from the impact of COVID-19. The previous film went on to earn $129.3 million in North America and $204 million globally against a $75 million budget. With a production cost of $100 million, Frozen Empire will need to surpass its predecessor's performance to justify its higher budget.
The film, directed by Gil Kenan and co-written by Kenan and Jason Reitman, continues the story about four decades after the original Ghostbusters, disregarding the 2016 reboot. The plot revolves around a family tied to the ghost-catching business teaming up with both new recruits and veteran Ghostbusters to prevent a catastrophic event that could trigger a second Ice Age.
Meanwhile, Immaculate, a religious horror film starring Sydney Sweeney, is eyeing a $5 million opening weekend from 2,000 theaters. The movie, backed by Neon and recently premiered at SXSW, follows the story of an American nun who uncovers dark secrets at a remote convent in Italy. Despite mixed reviews, critics have praised Sweeney's performance for her captivating presence on screen.
