This September has already seen a couple of notable box office surprises. Horror sequel The Conjuring: Last Rites blew past all expectations to break multiple records in its opening weekend. Last week, anime sensation Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle set new records of its own, taking advantage of relatively soft competition. This weekend, the Jordan Peele-produced football horror movie Him was looking to continue the trend and make another big splash, but it — and other new releases — failed to leave much of an impact at the box office. Once again, the box office crown went to Demon Slayer.
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According to Deadline, Demon Slayer grossed $17.3 million domestically in its second weekend to repeat in the No. 1 spot. For a while, it looked like it would be neck and neck with Him, but Demon Slayer ended up pulling away. Him earned $13.5 million over its first three days to secure second place. The weekend’s other notable release, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, bombed with just $3.5 million.
Why Him Fell Short of Box Office Projections
2025 has been a banner year for horror movies at the box office, with the likes of Sinners, Final Destination Bloodlines, Weapons, and The Conjuring: Last Rites all outperforming their initial estimates. Him was never expected to be a massive box office draw, but it seemed to have a few things working in its favor. Peele has obviously cemented himself as one of this generation’s most daring and gifted filmmakers, and even though he didn’t direct Him, his involvement as a producer attracted some attention. During his career behind the camera, Peele has routinely delivered compelling social commentary through horror movie concepts; a psychological thriller that examines fame, hero worship, and the sacrifices needed to become a champion had a lot of potential to deliver something special.
Unfortunately, Him fell short of realizing its lofty ambitions. The film earned largely negative reviews, unfortunately giving Peele the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score of his career. That word of mouth is arguably the main reason why Him fell short of reaching its modest estimates of a $15-18 million domestic debut. One thing most of this year’s biggest horror hits had in common was an enthusiastic response. Reception for The Conjuring: Last Rites was more mixed, but that was marketed as the final installment in a popular, long-running franchise. Last Rites was essentially critic-proof. Him needed reviews to build positive buzz going into the weekend.
With stronger reviews, Him might have been able to come out on top. As the numbers show, Demon Slayer was very front-loaded, dropping 75% in its second weekend. But it was able to hold on to the No. 1 position because it has significantly better word of mouth (a 98% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes). It was arguably the most appealing option at what was a slow week at the box office. Anime fans who missed Demon Slayer last week (or just wanted a second viewing) made a point to go out to the theater. Him struggled so much that The Conjuring: Last Rites ($12.9 million) nearly beat it despite being out for three weeks.
Like most horror movies, Him has a cost-controlled production budget. It was made for $27 million. Normally, that would put it in a good position to become a box office success, but its performance in its first weekend means now it has an uphill climb. Horror movies can be front-loaded too, and with the negative word of mouth, it’s unlikely Him catches on with viewers and becomes a sleeper hit. Leaving as small of an impression as it did, Him will surely be overshadowed in the coming weeks, as awards contenders like One Battle After Another and The Smashing Machine and big-budget blockbusters like Tron: Ares make their way to theaters. By all accounts, Him is shaping up to be a rare Jordan Peele misfire.
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