‘Fall 2: Deadpoint’ Struggles at the Box Office Despite Franchise Hopes

Sleeper hits often face a challenging legacy when studios opt to expand them into franchises. The original 2022 survival thriller emerged as an unexpected success story, achieving remarkable popularity on a modest budget, showcasing the kind of scrappy genre film that gradually garners a loyal following and convinces studios there’s potential for more.

This success paved the way for a planned trilogy, with Lionsgate banking on the idea that fans who enjoyed the first film’s heart-pounding tension would return for additional thrills. Unfortunately, the sequel’s opening weekend figures indicate that this gamble hasn’t yielded the expected results for the studio.

‘Fall 2: Deadpoint’ debuted domestically with a mere $2.3 million, closely aligning with Wikipedia’s estimate of approximately $2.6 million for its opening frame. The film had already accumulated just $573,000 over its first two days, including $262,000 on Thursday from 1,502 locations.

This lackluster launch starkly contrasts with the franchise’s ambitions. The original ‘Fall’ concluded its theatrical run with a total of only $18 million worldwide in 2022, operating on a tiny $3 million budget. This means the sequel’s opening is actually lower than its predecessor’s initial performance.

Critical reception has not favored the film either. ‘Fall 2: Deadpoint’ currently holds a mixed score of 58% to 59% on Rotten Tomatoes, depending on the sample size, while Metacritic has given it a “mixed or average” score of 53 out of 100 based on eight critic reviews.

Audience reactions have also cooled compared to the original. CinemaScore awarded the sequel a “B-” grade, a step down from the “B” received by the first film from opening night viewers.

The narrative follows Harriet Slater as Jax Hunter, who is still mourning her sister Shiloh’s death from the first film. She forms a bond with Shiloh’s friend Luce, portrayed by Arsema Thomas, as they undertake a perilous climb up Thailand’s Mount Kwan. When a rockslide traps them thousands of feet in the air on a narrow ledge, the duo must fight for survival with limited resources and no clear escape route.

Despite the disappointing debut, the film’s low budget suggests it may still find a path to profitability once streaming and television distribution are considered. Lionsgate has also confirmed a third installment in the franchise, indicating the studio remains committed to the series, regardless of this chapter’s theatrical performance.

Directed by twins Peter and Michael Spierig, with a screenplay co-written by original director Scott Mann, the sequel faced a challenging road to release, including a shift from its original August 7 target to its eventual September 2 debut. Whether this delay impacted the film’s soft opening or simply reflects a crowded late-summer marketplace remains a topic of discussion.

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