“Send Help Dominates Weekend Box Office Amid Strong Competition”

Casey Halston

Published: February 7, 2026 8:48 AM ET

This weekend, the box office saw a significant showing with “Send Help” emerging as the top contender. The film opened with an impressive $20 million, marking a prominent return for director Sam Raimi. Known for his acclaimed horror films and superhero franchises, Raimi’s latest project has become his fifth film to score over 90% on the Tomatometer.

Send Help Dominates Weekend Box Office

“Send Help,” featuring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, has generated substantial buzz since its release. It is projected to surpass Raimi’s previous work, “Drag Me To Hell,” which accumulated $90.8 million globally. As of now, “Send Help” has made $28.1 million worldwide, with expectations of reaching $100 million in total revenue.

Film Performance and Context

Opening weekend revenue: $20 million
Current global gross: $28.1 million
Previous successful film comparison: “Drag Me To Hell” ($90.8 million worldwide)
Overall Raimi films with a 90%+ rating: five

The film’s success can be attributed to strong word-of-mouth marketing, appealing to both horror aficionados and general audiences. This was particularly notable given that only six films have opened in January with over $19 million and failed to surpass the $50 million mark historically.

Challengers in the Box Office

Trailing behind “Send Help,” the indie adaptation “Iron Lung,” directed by Mark Fischbach (Markiplier), opened at second place with $17.9 million. The project, which had a modest budget of less than $3 million, demonstrated the viability of self-distributed indie films in a competitive market.

Notable Releases and Their Performance

“Iron Lung” – $17.9 million (second place)
“Melania” – $7 million, struggling despite being marketed widely
“Zootopia 2” – $5.8 million, maintaining its presence in the top five
“Avatar: Fire and Ash” – $5.5 million, nearing $400 million domestically

Amazon/MGM’s documentary “Melania,” directed by Brett Ratner, debuted with $7 million, sparking discussions on its financial viability following a $75 million production and marketing investment. Despite its A Cinemascore, it may struggle to break even.

Conclusion

The weekend’s box office performance illustrates a mix of established franchises and fresh content successfully capturing audience attention. “Send Help” has cemented its place at the top, while new entries like “Iron Lung” showcase the evolving landscape of film distribution. As the competition continues, it will be interesting to see if “Send Help” can maintain its momentum moving forward.