This weekend, the horror film Abigail is set to potentially surpass the political thriller Civil War in box office earnings. Civil War, directed by Alex Garland, premiered on April 12 and has been performing well. However, according to recent box office predictions from Variety, Abigail is expected to rake in between $12 million and $15 million domestically during its debut weekend, potentially outshining Civil War's projected earnings of $10 to $15 million.
If these forecasts hold true, Abigail would secure the top spot at the domestic box office, with Civil War following closely behind. Other new releases, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare and Spy x Family Code: White, are anticipated to bring in around $5-6 million each.
Civil War made a strong debut last weekend, grossing $25.7 million domestically and setting a record for A24 with the largest opening in the company's history. With a budget of $50 million, Civil War's success is notable. However, Abigail's potential to surpass Civil War at the box office adds another layer of significance to its performance.
Both films have received positive reviews, with Civil War holding an 82% critics score and a 77% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Abigail, on the other hand, boasts an 85% critics score based on early reviews. While the audience score for Abigail is yet to be determined, the positive critical reception bodes well for the horror film.
Abigail's buzz and reviews indicate a promising start, especially considering the success of recent horror releases like The First Omen, which earned $8.3 million during its opening weekend and has grossed $36.2 million worldwide to date. If Abigail manages to hit the higher end of its projected earnings, it could potentially become the biggest horror debut of 2024 so far.
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, Abigail follows the story of a group who unknowingly kidnaps a vampire disguised as a young girl. Starring Alisha Weir, Kathryn Newton, Melissa Barrera, and Dan Stevens, the film promises a thrilling and chilling experience for horror enthusiasts.
