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THE INVITATION Falters At Box Office, Why Horror Fails To Bring In Audiences

Poster courtesy of MMPA

THE INVITATION Falters At Box Office, Why Horror Fails To Bring In Audiences

By Movieguide® Contributor

Movie theaters have hit the usual summer slump, largely due to the subpar fare that is being shown in theaters right now. 

One of the worst offenders is THE INVITATION, which made just $7 million in its opening weekend. 

It’s no surprise the vampire romance is doing so poorly. Rotten Tomatoes gave the movie a 29% critical rating and a 53% audience score. 

THE INVITATION is rated PG-13, but contains the immoral content that Movieguide® has proven means bad news at the box office. 

Movieguide® previously reported on how R-rated movies perform with theater goers:

Moviegoers’ voices were more important than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic when studios and exhibitors struggled to show movies.

While there were some flops, the success of family-friendly movies early on in the pandemic gave theater chains and Hollywood a sliver of hope. From the start, it became clear that audiences would come in droves if the content met their standard.

Axios, an American news outlet, recently reported that in 2022, R-Rated movies brought in the lowest percentage of box office revenue in over 25 years.

The Numbers echoed Axios’ findings and noted that every movie to earn over $100 million in 2021 was movies rated PG-13 and below.

However, this connection between moral content and box office revenue is something Movieguide® has researched since 1993. Since then, Movieguide® has battled to help Hollywood studios and executives to see the truth about audiences and the box office.

“Since Movieguide®’s first annual Faith & Values Awards Gala & Report to the Entertainment Industry in 1993, the number of movies with morally uplifting, biblical and/or positive Christian content has more than quadrupled and the number of R-rated movies in the Top 25 Movies at the Box Office has declined from about 12 per year to only two to four each year,” Movieguide® wrote.

 

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.