Wolf Man Should Win The Weekend Box Office, Because That’s What Leigh Whannell Does

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On Thursday, January 16th, we’ll see the release of “Wolf Man”. It looks set to dominate the weekend box office, but this isn’t unusual for Leigh Whannell.

“Wolf Man” is coming out on Thursday, January 16th, and is expected to be a box office hit over the weekend. This isn’t surprising for Leigh Whannell.

As I dive into the world of “Wolf Man”, it’s my fourth time being at the helm as director, but let me tell you, I’ve penned chilling horror scripts that have left an indelible mark on the genre in this millennium.

  • Saw | $1 million budget | $104 million box office
  • Saw II | $4M| $152.9M
  • Saw III | $10M | $164.9M
  • Insidious | $1.5M | $100.1M
  • Insidious: Chapter 2 | $5M | $161.9M
  • Insidious: The Last Key | $10M | $167.9M

Whannell demonstrates an exceptional talent for transforming low-budget productions into blockbuster hits. This skill also shines through in his directorial work.

  • Insidious: Chapter 3| $11M | $113M
  • Upgrade | $3M | $17M
  • Invisible Man | $7M | $144.5M
  • Wolf Man | TBD | TBD

The Box Office Prediction For Wolf Man

According to Box Office Theory, “The Wolf Man” is projected to generate earnings between $20-$30 million during its initial three-day run at the box office. In contrast, expectations for “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” were set at a range of $14-$19 million, with the actual earnings coming in slightly lower at $15.5 million. The predictions for “A Complete Unknown” and “Babygirl” also proved accurate, with the former earning $11.6 million and the latter grossing $4.5 million.

2024 marked a memorable moment for me as a fan when Mean Girls reigned supreme during its January release, raking in an impressive $28.6M on its opening weekend. In contrast, Avatar: The Way of Water maintained its powerful grip at the end of 2023 by claiming every single weekend in January. It wasn’t until February 3 that Knock at the Cabin managed to snatch the throne with a strong debut of $14M. Reminiscing back to 2022, Scream made quite an entrance, debuting with a whopping $30 million. And let’s not forget about 2020 when Bad Boys For Life brought in a staggering $62M at the box office.

January typically favors well-established intellectual properties. The movie Mean Girls, for instance, is an adaptation from the 2004 film’s Broadway musical version. Way of Water was eagerly anticipated as a follow-up, while Scream and Bad Boy For Life were also sequels.

Absolutely, the werewolf character you’re referring to is indeed well-known, but this film presents a fresh take on the creature. It doesn’t have a pre-existing fanbase like other established IPs might, which makes its success at the box office even more noteworthy. The last time an original movie took the weekend box office in January was back in 2013 with “Ride Along”.

Why We Hope Wolf Man Is A Huge Success

I was thoroughly captivated by “The Invisible Man” and have high hopes for “Wolf Man”. Despite Leigh Whannell being an exceptional small-budget conceptualist, one can’t help but wonder how he would fare with a larger budget. There’s a risk that the magic he creates might dissipate as he ventures into uncharted territories. However, there’s also the possibility that it won’t be a catastrophe – instead, it could be something extraordinary.

Art Aster worked with a $10 million budget for the movie ‘Hereditary’. It went on to earn $87.8 million. For ‘Midsommar’, he had a $9 million budget and it brought in $48 million. Later, A24 provided him with a $35 million budget for ‘Beau Is Afraid’. Despite not being well-received by many, I believe that ‘Beau Is Afraid’ is a masterful piece of work that will be recognized as a classic over time.

I’m excited to imagine what Leigh Whannell could create with a budget of $35M or even $100M, similar to how Robert Eggers utilized his resources in making ‘Nosferatu’. If ‘Wolf Man’ continues its success, it would bring us one step closer to having someone grant Whannell the freedom to make any project he desires.

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2025-01-13 23:09