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Movies & TV

24th Mar 2019

Us scores biggest ever opening box office weekend for an original horror

Dave Hanratty

Us box office

Jordan Peele is your new scary movie maestro.

Us, the much-anticipated follow-up to Get Out, has taken very little time to make a very big mark indeed.

Jordan Peele basically has a blank cheque in Hollywood following the huge critical – 98% on Rotten Tomatoes –  and commercial – $255 million worldwide on a $4.5 million budget – success of Get Out.

Expectation and pressure was high for Us, and it’s gone pretty well so far.

JOE’s own Big Reviewski crew were suitably impressed, and now the people have spoken with their wallets.

Variety reports that Us has raked in a mouthwatering $70 million in its opening weekend in America, a total that is brought up to an even more attractive $86.95 million when the worldwide box office is all accounted for.

It also means that Us has officially enjoyed the biggest opening weekend for an original horror film in history, leaping over A Quiet Place.

“Put simply, Jordan Peele is a genius,” said a highly impressed Jim Orr, Universal president of domestic distribution.

“He’s managed to tap into something that the domestic box office can’t get enough of.

“People can’t wait to see what he does next.”

True enough. If you’ve seen the movie or are even vaguely intrigued by it, check out our review below about 35 minutes in:

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