Brad Pitt’s ‘Heart of the Beast’ Shows Strong Legs in Second Weekend as Word of Mouth Grows

Tena Milakovic
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Paramount has faced a challenging year at the box office, and the well-reviewed survival thriller ‘Heart of the Beast,’ directed by David Ayer and featuring Brad Pitt, was expected to bring some optimism. Released on September 25, the film garnered positive reviews and boasts a star-studded cast. The key question was whether audiences would show up for this man-and-his-dog tale amidst a busy fall schedule.

The film’s opening was modest, earning $20 million domestically and $30.1 million from 63 international markets, totaling $50.1 million worldwide against a reported budget of $82 million. Its opening Friday brought in $7.4 million, with tracking predictions suggesting a range between $14 million and $20 million.

However, the second weekend is presenting a more promising narrative. Box office analyst Luiz Fernando reports that the PG-13 action film grossed a solid $3.2 million on its second Friday, marking a drop of only 58.2% from its opening Friday. He attributes this to strong word of mouth, which appears to be benefiting the film.

Fernando compared this performance to several recent action films. ‘Dog’ experienced a 51.2% drop to $2.5 million on its second Friday, while ‘The Beekeeper’ fell 63.9% to $2.4 million. Other titles like ‘The Running Man’ and ‘Ad Astra’ saw drops of 74.6% and 58.4%, respectively. ‘Heart of the Beast’ ranks favorably among these films.

Currently, the film has a domestic total of $30.5 million. Fernando anticipates a second three-day weekend gross of $11 million to $13 million, reflecting a decline of 35% to 45%. JoBlo’s weekend update suggests it is on track for approximately $11 million, indicating a 45% drop and a total of $38 million domestically.

Audience feedback helps clarify this strong hold. Moviegoers awarded the film an A- CinemaScore, a commendable rating for a thriller, and its Rotten Tomatoes audience score has hovered around 95%. Critics have also responded positively, with an 87% score, and Comic Basics highlighted it as one of Ayer’s best-reviewed films.

The narrative is straightforward yet emotional. Pitt portrays James Belmont, a retired veteran who survives an Alaskan plane crash alongside his loyal combat dog, embarking on a grueling 58-mile journey to safety. Co-starring J.K. Simmons and Anna Lambe, the dog, Odin, has been noted as a standout performer.

Screenshot 2026 09 27 at 09 58 03 Heart of the Beast Rotten Tomatoes

This film marks a reunion between Pitt and Ayer, who previously collaborated on the 2014 war drama ‘Fury,’ which grossed $211.8 million globally. Ayer is typically known for his gritty urban narratives, making the tender survival theme of ‘Heart of the Beast’ a notable shift.

The competition this weekend has been intense, with Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ and Anne Hathaway’s ‘Verity’ both making their debuts, while ‘Resident Evil’ remains a strong contender. Nevertheless, ‘Heart of the Beast’ is maintaining its position, with a smaller drop than many of its competitors, indicating that viewers who have seen it are recommending it.

With an $82 million budget, the film still has a significant journey ahead. However, a robust second weekend, an A- grade, and positive audience reactions provide Paramount with something it has lacked this year: a well-received film that is gaining traction.

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