The success of Five Nights at Freddy’s may be the key to having more than one sequel soon.

Unsurprisingly, the film adaptation of the acclaimed video game, ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ has achieved phenomenal success, becoming the highest grossing horror film of 2023. This event not only marks a milestone in the history of cinematic horror, but also highlights the growing popularity of the genre.

With $271.8 million worldwide, ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ surpassed ‘The Nun II’ to hold the record with $268 million. This win is even more impressive given the context in which the film was released: the 2023 actors’ strike and fierce competition from simultaneous releases on streaming platforms.

An unexpected success story

Josh Hutcherson, playing Mike, a night watchman, takes the viewer into a world where bloodthirsty animatics threaten every quiet moment. Despite a significant drop in its second week, the film grossed an impressive $80 million in its opening weekend. This phenomenal success shows the film’s ability to attract large audiences, even during challenging times for the film industry.

In the year 2023 saw the success of horror movies of all budgets. From ‘Terrifier 2,’ which returned 62 times its $250,000 budget, to ‘Smile,’ which grossed $217.4 million, horror movies have proven to be a safe bet. ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ joins this list of successes by leading the list of the year’s highest-grossing horror films.

‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’: The Next Big Hit?

The question many are asking is whether this trend will continue in 2024. With promising titles like ‘The First Omen’, ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’, ‘Smile 2’ and Radio Silence’s mysterious Universal Monster project, the future looks bright. In addition, independent and low-budget ideas like ‘Night Swim’ and ‘Terrifier 3’ promise to keep the genre alive.

After the success of ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ we will probably see a sequel in the near future. The film has shown that there is still a lot of potential in the horror genre to attract audiences to cinemas even under difficult circumstances. Its success, despite the challenges of the actors’ strike and streaming competition, points to a promising future for sequels and the genre as a whole.

How can Five Nights at Freddy’s expand?

The possibility of expanding the ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ franchise on film is huge and promising. Given the phenomenal success of the first film, a sequel could further explore the game’s universe, introducing new settings and characters. For example, subsequent episodes could focus on the origin story of animatronics, showing how the characters became the iconic horror figures we know today. Not only does this add depth to the universe, but it also keeps fans engaged and attracts new viewers.

Another option is to explore different areas outside the original pizzeria, each with its own story and collection of animatronics. These new settings can be big, scary, and different kinds of suspense and horror. Additionally, a series may introduce new human characters, each with their own relationship and experience with the animatronics, thereby enriching the narrative.

Integrating augmented reality or immersive experiences into promotions or even the narrative of movies can be another fun way. This is not only a new marketing strategy, but also creates a more interactive and immersive experience for fans.

With these expansions, the ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ franchise not only remains a pillar in horror cinema, but also sets a new standard in video game film adaptations, cementing its place as one of the most creative and innovative franchises around. Horror movies of our time.