20th Century Studios’ latest foray into the horror genre, Psycho Killer, has suffered a brutal start at the North American box office. Despite coming from the pen of Se7en writer Andrew Kevin Walker, the film failed to find its footing in an increasingly crowded marketplace, debuting to a dismal $710,000 on its opening Friday from 1,100 theaters.
With a soft per-screen average of just $645, the Gavin Polone-directed slasher is currently projected to land between $2 million and $3 million for its opening weekend. While the film was produced on a modest budget of under $10 million, the lack of audience interest is concerning.
Industry analysts point to a “horror glut” as a primary reason for the failure. Psycho Killer is competing against several other genre titles, including Send Help, Iron Lung, and The Strangers: Chapter 3. Furthermore, critical reception has been scathing; the film currently holds a rare 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an equally discouraging audience score in the low 30s. Without a significant turnaround, Psycho Killer appears destined to be one of 2026’s first major box office casualties.
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Opening Friday: $710,000
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Theater Count: 1,100
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Per-Theater Average: $645
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Projected Weekend: $2M – $3M
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The Bottom Line: Despite a low $10 million budget, Psycho Killer is underperforming significantly. High competition from other horror films like Send Help and Iron Lung, combined with a 0% Rotten Tomatoes critic score, has resulted in a “disastrous” opening for 20th Century Studios.
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Rotten Tomatoes: 0% Critics / ~33% Audience
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Director/Writer: Gavin Polone (Debut) / Andrew Kevin Walker (Se7en)
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Competition: Send Help, Iron Lung, The Strangers: Chapter 3
