With Sony about to drop the I Know What You Did Last Summer legacy sequel into theatres, things initially looked promising for the IP.
However, now information is coming to light that has cast doubt on if Jennifer Kaytin Robinson’s sequel will perform well at the box-office.
Despite a huge promotional push from Sony, we’re hearing that ticket pre-sales have been slow. Thus, the film’s projected box-office opening has varied wildly given the source.
Some track the film to open to a respectable $17-19 million, while some predict the film will struggle to make $10 million.
This is undoubtedly worrying news to Sony Pictures, who have poured a great deal of money and effort into an elaborate Last Summer marketing campaign. This has included a collaboration with restaurant chain Red Lobster, merchandise including clothes, hats, and giftbags, and even custom ice cream flavours.
All of this, in addition to the usual print advertising and press tour campaigns, screams that Sony are pushing hard to make Last Summer successful. However, things don’t look too hopeful.
Upon release, Last Summer will face direct competition from new release Smurfs, as well as holdover competition from Superman and Jurassic World: Rebirth. Hopes that the slasher reboot will top the box-office and hook a monstrous gross appear to be fading, as the interest in the brand isn’t what Sony had anticipated.
However, I Know What You Did Last Summer could surprise us, with that massive promotional push paying off.
We’ll just have to wait and see if this sequel is dead in the water.
