‘Onslaught’ Experiences One of A24’s Worst Openings Ever with Disappointing Numbers

Adam Wingard has spent nearly a decade navigating between major studio franchises and the gritty, independent genre filmmaking that initially brought him recognition. After directing the ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ films, his latest project signifies a conscious return to his horror roots.

This comeback was met with considerable anticipation, bolstered by A24’s reputation in the genre and a cast featuring Adria Arjona, Dan Stevens, and Rebecca Hall. Unfortunately, the film’s opening weekend figures indicate that audiences were not as eager to attend.

‘Onslaught’ flopped at the domestic box office over Labor Day weekend, grossing only $1.8 million across 1,918 screens during its three-day opening, as reported by the New York Times via KSAT. The film failed to make it into the weekend’s top ten releases.

This performance is even more striking when compared to a limited theatrical rerelease of the 1988 anime classic ‘Akira’, which debuted in select 4K and IMAX theaters across the U.S. and Canada during the same weekend, according to Hypebeast. Despite being shown in far fewer venues, the iconic film reportedly outperformed Wingard’s new release, based on industry tracking data.

The audience’s reception on opening night did not help either. ‘Onslaught’ received a “C” grade from CinemaScore, reflecting the mixed reviews critics had already given the film, which currently holds a 57% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Financially, the film was not expected to be a massive hit, with a modest $15 million production budget. However, even this relatively low target now seems challenging to achieve once marketing expenses and theatrical splits are taken into account, placing ‘Onslaught’ among a growing list of low-budget genre films that failed to turn a profit in theaters.

The plot follows Arjona as Celeste, an Army veteran turned trailer park manager who is forced back into combat mode when a trio of genetically engineered super soldiers escape from a secret military facility and invade her community. Dan Stevens co-stars as Dr. Hans Kammler, with a supporting cast that includes Eric Wareheim, Reginald VelJohnson, Michael Biehn, and Alex Pereira.

Despite the disappointing figures, ‘Onslaught’ still managed to secure the eighth-largest domestic opening weekend for an R-rated action film this year. It also ranks as A24’s sixth-biggest opener of 2026, falling significantly short of releases like ‘Backrooms’ and its impressive $81.4 million debut.

For a filmmaker whose previous works like ‘The Guest’ and ‘You’re Next’ helped shape a distinctive brand of stylish, character-driven horror, ‘Onslaught’s’ rocky debut serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of theatrical audiences, even with well-known talent involved. Whether the film will find a second chance through streaming or home viewing remains uncertain, but its theatrical journey appears to be over before it truly began.

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