Five Nights at Freddy’s is a horror movie released on October 27th, 2023 by Blumhouse Productions. Horror movies as a genre aren’t usually regarded very well, as trying to scare one’s audience is not always the easiest task to accomplish. Most horror movies end up being regarded as cheesy or just plain boring. However, the movie does have a great deal of popularity and recognition attached to it. So, how did the movie perform?

Background

       Originating from a (currently) 9-part video game series created by Scott Cawthon, Five Nights at Freddy’s is perhaps one of the most popular pieces of horror media spawned in the last decade. The games have garnered a massive internet following, and as of 2023, the franchise as a whole has reportedly sold over 33.5 million copies worldwide. Naturally, such massive popularity eventually resulted in discussion over a potential movie, beginning all the way back in 2015. However, the movie was passed around between a number of producers, directors, and even companies, meaning that the production was delayed for many years. As a matter of fact, filming only began in February of this year. As such, Five Nights at Freddy’s is a movie nearly a decade in the making.

Reception

     Five Nights at Freddy’s was a massive financial success. Comparing its $20 million budget to its box office earnings of over $200 million in its opening weekend makes it easy to see that people were very keen on seeing it. Audience scores hold the movie in very high regard, with many fans of the series thinking Blumhouse very much delivered. On the other hand, however, critics were not as impressed, with the most glaring of criticisms being focused on its plot being confusing and uninteresting.

My Review

       Having been a massive fan of the series since I was in elementary school, I’ve had a great deal of emotional attachment to this movie. I’ve followed the development of the movie with great interest, and as such they probably could have released complete slop and I would have enjoyed it. But even beyond that, Blumhouse managed to create an excellent adaptation of the series. While the movie is far from perfect and I do have some small criticisms, I think it’s an incredibly fun movie for fans. That being said, however, those who may not know much about the franchise are likely not going to find the same level of enjoyment, even if it is still a fun watch. I think Five Nights at Freddy’s is worthy of an 8/10! I highly recommend it and hope there’ll be more films in the future.