“The Exorcist: Believer” took the top spot at the Friday box office, raking in $11.9 million, including $2.9 million from previews. At this rate, the R-rated horror film is expected to have a domestic opening of $28 million, a somewhat modest figure considering the hefty price paid for the series’ rights. Globally, the movie is projected to open to $47.1 million for the weekend.

Directed by David Gordon Green, this horror flick arrives in theaters exactly 50 years after the original “Exorcist” made cinematic history. The 1973 classic, directed by William Friedkin and based on William Peter Blatty’s book, starred Linda Blair and Ellen Burstyn.

Blumhouse and Universal partnered on “Exorcist: Believer” after Universal reportedly shelled out a whopping $400 million for the rights in 2021, with two more sequels already in the pipeline. These same parties, including Blumhouse, Universal, and Green, garnered praise for resurrecting the iconic Halloween franchise, with 2007’s “Halloween” raking in an impressive $72.2 million during its opening.

“Exorcist: Believer” had initially aimed for an opening between $30 million to $36 million. Despite the film’s unfavorable reviews, boasting a paltry 20 percent critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, audience exit polls from PostTrak indicate that viewers are generally satisfied with the movie. However, the film received a C CinemaScore, a typical grade for horror films.

For the first time since the 1973 original, Burstyn reprises her memorable role as Chris MacNeil, an actress deeply affected by the events surrounding her daughter Regan five decades ago. The story centers around Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.), whose daughter (Lidya Jewett) and her friend (Olivia Marcum) become possessed.

“Exorcist: Believer” is simultaneously launching in its first 40 international markets this weekend.

Horror films have been dominating the fall box office, led by “The Nun II,” which premiered with $32.6 million several weeks ago, followed by the slasher flick “Saw II,” which opened with $18.6 million last week.