AceShowbiz - Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is making waves at the domestic box office but is experiencing a notably larger decline in its second weekend compared to the original 2019 film.

The 2026 sequel picks up directly where the first movie left off, with the main character, bride Grace, played by Samara Weaving, once again forced into a deadly game of hide-and-seek. This time, she is joined by her sister Faith, portrayed by Kathryn Newton. The film opened last weekend with a strong $9.1 million domestic take, surpassing the original movie's $8 million debut and setting a new franchise record.

However, according to projections reported by Deadline on Saturday morning, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is expected to bring in only $4 million during its second domestic weekend. This marks a 56% drop from its opening weekend, a steep decline especially when compared to the first Ready or Not film, which experienced a much smaller 26.2% decrease in its sophomore weekend in 2019.

The film’s sophomore weekend performance placed it at No. 4 on the domestic box office charts, trailing behind titles such as Project Hail Mary with $53.1 million, Pixar’s Hoppers at $11.3 million, and even the newly released horror-comedy They Will Kill You, which earned between $5 and $5.5 million. While horror movies often see significant second-weekend declines, sometimes exceeding 60%, the size of this drop is particularly notable given the relative stability of its predecessor.

This drop has resulted in Ready or Not 2 trailing behind the original in total domestic earnings at the same point in its theatrical run. The sequel’s projected cumulative total by the end of the weekend is approximately $16.2 million, over $4 million less than the original film's $20.4 million at the same stage.

This positions the sequel in a challenging spot financially. Although it opened slightly stronger than the original, the first Ready or Not gained momentum through strong audience retention, growing into a sleeper hit that ultimately grossed $57.6 million domestically. This was especially impressive given its modest $6 million production budget.

In contrast, the new installment reportedly cost more than double, with a $14 million budget. To break even theatrically, it may need to earn as much as $35 million domestically. Despite this, critical reception could help buoy the film’s prospects. The sequel holds a Certified Fresh rating of 74% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer, which is lower than the original’s 89%, but its verified audience score is a robust 90% on Popcornmeter—significantly higher than the original’s 78%.

Both films received the same CinemaScore grade of B+, indicating generally positive audience reactions. This suggests that while the sequel’s box office trajectory is less favorable, it has not been poorly received by viewers, which could lead to stronger word-of-mouth and help its overall theatrical performance.

Comparing Ready or Not 2 to other recent horror releases highlights its relative resilience. For instance, 2026’s Scream 7 and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple both suffered among the largest second-weekend drops in horror history, with declines of 73.3% and 72.6% respectively. In that context, the 56% drop for Ready or Not 2 seems less severe and could indicate potential for continued audience interest.

Ultimately, while the sequel is unlikely to replicate the sleeper hit status of the original, its performance is not necessarily catastrophic given the challenges faced by horror sequels. The film’s strong audience scores and moderate drop-off rate suggest that it still has a chance to turn a profit in theaters by the end of its run, especially if positive word-of-mouth continues to grow.

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As the theatrical window progresses, industry watchers will be closely monitoring whether Ready or Not 2 can sustain enough momentum to overcome its higher budget and challenging second-weekend drop, or if it will ultimately fall short of the original’s impressive financial success.