Movies

I know What You Did Last Summer reboot underwhelms at box office as cult classic maintains top spot

BBG News

Sony’s effort to resurrect I Know What You Did Last Summer with the original cast didn’t manage to recapture the cinematic charm that originally drew crowds to the box office.

The most recent movie in the long-running horror series featuring Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt had a modest opening of $13 million in the U.S., making it the film with the weakest debut in the franchise’s almost 30-year run.

Struggling to leave an impression amidst the powerhouses of DC’s Superman and Marvel’s debuting Fantastic Four: First Steps (opening in cinemas this Thursday), the remade horror film didn’t create much of a wave.

1997’s initial release had a stark difference from the current one, with the former earning just $15.8 million initially but eventually amassing more than $125 million globally.

The original film in 1997 saw very different box office results, starting with only $15.8 million and eventually bringing in over $125 million worldwide.

Or even shorter:

In contrast to the initial 1997 release, this film opened with $15.8 million but went on to gross over $125 million globally.

In the aftermath of Scream’s popularity, I Know What You Did Last Summer significantly contributed to the surge of teen slasher films in the latter part of the 1990s.

In a tense, thrilling narrative, four companions conceal a hit-and-run incident, but are haunted a year later by an ominous figure brandishing hooks, hinting at their past misdeeds. This story not only left its mark on horror genre classics but also resonated culturally as an enduring symbol.

1998’s follow-up, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, didn’t receive the same critical acclaim, but it managed to gross more than $84 million worldwide nonetheless.

Together, the first two films built a recognizable franchise out of Lois Duncan’s original novel.

In 2025, the revival centers around the grown-up survivors, who are once again dragged into a new wave of fear as another group of teenagers encounters chilling parallels with their own past threats.

Eventually, it ended up in third position, just edging out Smurfs and the divisive A24 Western Eddington.

Although the movie’s budget of $18 million means it could still turn a profit, its underwhelming response from audiences didn’t do it any favors.

The film received a 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, while audiences also showed little enthusiasm, giving it a mediocre grade of ‘C+’ on CinemaScore.

Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, the director herself, handled the mixed reviews playfully by simply tweeting a single word: “Camp.

Over the weekend, I was absolutely thrilled as I watched Superman soaring ever higher, raking in an impressive $57.3 million, pushing its worldwide earnings past a staggering $400 million! It’s like this superhero just keeps getting better with time!

Showing a resilient performance with a 54% decrease from its debut, the reboot continues to thrive – a significant triumph for Warner Bros., as they hope it will spearhead a fresh chapter in their DC superhero universe.

In the works are spin-off series including Supergirl and Clayface, as well as a fresh take on Wonder Woman.

Other newcomers didn’t fare much better. 

As a devoted follower, I found myself at the box office this weekend, eagerly anticipating the Smurfs animated movie led by Rihanna. To my surprise, it only managed to pull in $11 million on its opening day, even with such a star-studded voice cast. On the other hand, Eddington – Ari Aster’s Western satire featuring Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal – had a rather slow start, debuting with just $4.2 million and a somewhat disappointing ‘C+’ CinemaScore.

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2025-07-20 23:33

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