Sam Raimi’s Send Help defies box office odds with strong third weekend

Sam Raimi’s Send Help posts a rare third-weekend box office hold, nearing $50M domestic on a $40M budget

Sam Raimi’s horror thriller Send Help continues to outperform expectations at the box office, delivering an unusually strong third-weekend performance. 

The film, starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, is Raimi’s first full-scale return to the horror genre in over a decade and has maintained steady momentum since its release.

After debuting with more than $19.1 million and earning another $9 million in its second weekend, Send Help is projected to bring in approximately $8.97 million in its third weekend, according to box office tracking data. The minimal decline—roughly 0.08%—is considered exceptionally rare, particularly for an adult thriller. Despite playing in about 500 fewer theaters, the film reportedly saw a 16% increase in per-theater averages.

The movie has now reached an estimated $49.6 million domestically and $73.8 million worldwide. Produced on a $40 million budget, the film is on track to more than double its production costs, marking it as a financial success for Disney and 20th Century Studios. Strong reviews, high audience scores, and positive word-of-mouth have contributed to its sustained performance.

Industry observers note that the film’s success highlights continued demand for mid-budget adult thrillers, a category often overshadowed by franchise blockbusters. The recent performance of director Paul Feig’s The Housemaid, which earned over $360 million globally, further suggests that well-marketed, star-driven thrillers can attract sizable audiences.

Notably, Send Help was initially considered for a streaming release before Raimi advocated for a theatrical rollout. That decision appears to have paid off, reinforcing the potential profitability of original films in cinemas. Analysts suggest the film’s trajectory could encourage studios to invest more confidently in adult-oriented theatrical releases moving forward.