Evil Dead: Hellraiser grosses $27 million worldwide, revives animal‑possessed Deadite after 34 years

The new Evil Dead installment, Evil Dead: Hellraiser, opened in cinemas worldwide this weekend, earning about US$ 27 million in its first three days. In the United States it collected US$ 13.7 million, while the rest of the world contributed US$ 13.3 million. With a production budget of US$ 20 million, the film has already covered its costs and is expected to turn a profit.

The movie, directed by Sébastien Vaniček, is set in 1972 and serves as a prequel to the original 1981 film. It brings back a long‑absent element of the franchise – an animal‑possessed Deadite. In the story, a family dog named Max becomes a Deadite, marking the first appearance of a possessed animal in the series in 34 years. Critics gave the film a 71 % approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and audiences awarded it a CinemaScore of B. The cast includes Souheila Yacoub, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan and Tandi Wright.