The Pope’s Exorcist 2 has been confirmed for some time, but has only now been given the green light to move forward with production. Russell Crowe starred in the first movie, playing Gabriele Amorth. Although the box office performance wasn’t record-breaking, it did gross $76.9 million (£57.8 million) worldwide at the box office. $20 million (£15.5m) for this came from the US, with $57 million (£42.9m) coming from other territories. As the movie only cost $18 million (£13.5m) to create, it’s no surprise that work on the second instalment is moving quickly.
Russell Crowe Makes His Mark on Horror
It’s expected that Russell Crowe is going to be reprising his role as Father Gabriele Amorth in the new movie. No cast members have been confirmed as of yet, but it’s highly anticipated that we will be seeing other cast members from the first movie as well. There are even talks about a Pope’s Exorcist 3, which, if time permits, could see a release in 2026-2027. If this is the case, then Crowe could easily become a huge figure within the classic horror subgenre.
The plot for the first movie covers Amorth, one of the top exorcists at the Vatican, as he uncovers a conspiracy while trying to save someone. The movie earned mixed reviews from critics, though, with that said, it was a huge hit with general audiences, to the point where director Julius Avery may even return for the second movie. As the movie was such a hit on home VOD, it does beg the question as to whether or not the second release could skip the box office altogether and go straight to streaming.
Could the Movie Skip the Box Office?
Movies go straight to DVD or streaming services when studios decide that a theatrical release isn’t profitable. This can be due to the high costs of theatrical distribution and the fact that the movie can garner more publicity by targeting home viewers.
Within the horror genre, movies often go straight to streaming services, with examples including 2024’s Don’t Move. This was released by Netflix and recorded 20.2 million views in the first week, and 28 million in the second. The same trend is happening in other verticals too, including gaming. Trivia games once had a physical board and cards, but now are released digitally, so the questions can be updated, and multiplayer elements can be added. Bingo games are also often released straight to a digital bingo app, rather than being offered in traditional venues first. This means you can play 90-ball bingo or 1p games on your phone or device, without having to find a local bingo venue in your area. Trends like this show that more and more people are looking for home experiences, and a lot of movie productions are embracing it as well, by skipping the box office with new releases.
Although the Pope’s Exorcist wasn’t record-breaking, it’s likely the second movie will see a full box office release, although it’s not certain when this will be. It’s also highly likely that we will see the option to rent the movie on Amazon, after a grace period at the cinema, as this is what happened with the original.
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