Lionsgate’s “The Strangers: Chapter 1” shattered expectations at the box office, clinching the title for the highest domestic horror opening of the year, despite facing a barrage of critical disdain. The film raked in $11.83 million across 2,856 theaters, narrowly surpassing Blumhouse’s “Night Swim” to seize the throne.

Here’s a rundown of the top horror film openings this year:

1. “The Strangers: Chapter 1” – $11.8 million
2. “Night Swim” – $11.7 million
3. “Abigail” – $10.2 million
4. “Imaginary” – $9.9 million
5. “The First Omen” – $8.3 million
6. “Tarot” – $6.5 million
7. “Immaculate” – $5.3 million
8. “Lisa Frankenstein” – $3.6 million

For comparison, 2018’s “The Strangers: Prey at Night” opened with $10.4 million before grossing $31 million globally.

Despite the lukewarm reviews, the budget-friendly production cost of $8.5 million puts “The Strangers: Chapter 1” on a promising trajectory towards profitability. The question now looms over Lionsgate: will the success warrant theatrical releases for both Chapter 2 and Chapter 3, already in the pipeline, or will the studio pivot towards streaming?

As speculation mounts, the star-studded cast including Madelaine Petsch, Froy Gutierrez, Rachel Shenton, Ema Horvath, and Gabe Basso, alongside director Renny Harlin, continue to fuel anticipation for the next chapters in this chilling saga.

The official synopsis sets the stage for terror: “After their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple are forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive.”

The saga of “The Strangers” continues to captivate audiences, leaving us eagerly awaiting what horrors await in the sequels.