Send Help Leads Slow Super Bowl Weekend Box Office

Sam Raimi's horror-thriller looks to become the director's highest-grossing original film.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Super Bowl weekend traditionally sees a slowdown in moviegoing, and this year was no exception. The top 10 films grossed an estimated $49.6 million, with Sam Raimi's horror-thriller Send Help leading for a second straight weekend with $10 million. Kevin James' comedy Solo Mio opened to $7.2 million, while Markiplier's video game adaptation Iron Lung fell to third with $6 million. Despite being a beloved comedy, Spinal Tap II opened to just $1.61 million, while a K-Pop group's Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience opened to a stronger $5.5 million.

Why it matters

Super Bowl weekend is known for its impact on the box office, with moviegoing typically slowing down as audiences focus on the big game. This year's results continue that trend, though the top 10 total was slightly higher than the past few years. The performance of films like Send Help, Solo Mio, and Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience provide insights into current audience preferences and the challenges of launching new comedic and music-driven properties.

The details

Send Help, a horror-thriller directed by Sam Raimi, grossed an estimated $10 million in its second weekend, bringing its 10-day total to $35.8 million. This puts it on track to become Raimi's highest-grossing original film, surpassing The Maze Runner: Death Cure. Kevin James' comedy Solo Mio, from Angel Studios, opened to $7.2 million, a far cry from his past successes like the Paul Blart films. Markiplier's video game adaptation Iron Lung fell to third with $6 million, but has already grossed over $31 million, more than several other high-profile game adaptations. Spinal Tap II, the long-awaited sequel to the beloved comedy, disappointed with a $1.61 million opening, while the K-Pop group Stray Kids' The dominATE Experience opened to a stronger $5.5 million.

  • Since 1990 there have been 35 iterations of the Super Bowl, with the best weekend coming in 2009 when Liam Neeson was throat-punching his way into our hearts with Taken.
  • The top 10 that weekend made $95.9 million.
  • Since the pandemic, the box office during this weekend has not surpassed $50 million, but it has seen some remarkable consistency, with three of the last four years seeing a top 10 total between $46.3 and $47.8 million.
  • This weekend joined that bunch, with an estimated top 10 total of $49.6 million.

The players

Sam Raimi

An American filmmaker known for directing the original Spider-Man trilogy and other horror and fantasy films.

Kevin James

An American actor and comedian known for his roles in the sitcom The King of Queens and the Paul Blart: Mall Cop films.

Markiplier

The stage name of American YouTuber and video game commentator Mark Fischbach, who has adapted the video game Iron Lung for the big screen.

Rob Reiner

An American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, known for directing the classic comedy This Is Spinal Tap.

Stray Kids

A popular K-Pop boy band whose concert film The dominATE Experience opened this weekend.

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What they’re saying

“Super Bowl weekend has always cut into weekend moviegoing.”

— Erik Childress, Box office analyst (rottentomatoes.com)

“By next weekend, it will become Raimi's top-grossing movie that doesn't involve Marvel or Oz.”

— Erik Childress, Box office analyst (rottentomatoes.com)

The takeaway

This Super Bowl weekend box office report highlights the ongoing challenges of launching new comedic and music-driven properties, even for established talents, while also showcasing the continued dominance of genre films like Sam Raimi's horror-thriller Send Help. The results underscore the importance of building loyal fan bases and finding the right release strategies in a crowded entertainment landscape.