IT Chapter Two is projected to have the second-best September box office opening of all-time. The upcoming film will adapt the second half of Stephen King’s gargantuan novel, which takes place almost three full decades after The Losers Club defeated Pennywise the Clown in the first film.
According to Variety, IT Chapter Two is projected to earn up to approximately $110 million during its first three days domestically. That figure would easily blow past The Nun for September’s second-highest opening weekend and trail only the original IT for the all-time record ($123.4 million).
It went on to earn $700 million worldwide. It is likely that box office estimates will rise as the film’s release date nears. For comparison, the second highest-performing September release, The Nun, premiered around the same time as It and opened to $53 million domestically, earning $365 million total worldwide. It easily out-earned The Nun in a matter of days.
As for why IT: Chapter 2 is not currently estimated to match or surpass the first film, there are a couple of reasons. First, it’s rare in Hollywood for the direct sequel to a record-breaking movie to top its predecessor. For example, Star Wars: The Force Awakens opened with $247.9 million domestically, and The Last Jedi earned $220 million in its debut. When something becomes as huge a phenomenon as IT was a couple of years back, it’s hard to replicate that performance.
It: Chapter 2 stars Bill Skarsgård, James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Jay Ryan, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, James Ransone, Andy Bean, Teach Grant, Jess Weixler, Will Beinbrink, Xavier Dolan, Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Finn Wolfhard, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff and Nicholas Hamilton. The film is scheduled to be released on Sept. 6.
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