Sixteen years after the film’s trailer premiered as part of the Grindhouse theatrical experience, Eli Roth’s slasher movie Thanksgiving carved its way into theaters over the weekend.
The rated “R” bloodbath was produced for just $15 million, a number that the film is likely to pass in the coming days. Here in the United States, Thanksgiving scared up $10.2 million in its debut weekend, with the film’s worldwide opening bringing the current total to $12.6 million.
While not exactly a massive opening weekend for Roth’s return to horror – factoring in marketing costs and other factors, Thanksgiving likely needs to hit $30 million before it starts making a profit – it’s just great to see a bloody-as-hell, old school slasher carving out a piece of the box office pie here in 2023. And most importantly, fans and critics alike are raving about the back-to-basics slasher, which currently has an 83% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.
One has to wonder if Thanksgiving will drop significantly once the Thanksgiving holiday comes and goes this week, but Roth’s latest still has a handful of days to capitalize on the holiday theming. We’ll be keeping our eyes on this one in the coming days, so stay tuned.
The film, an expansion of Roth’s faux trailer seen in Grindhouse (2007), was released in theaters worldwide by TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group (Scream).
In Thanksgiving, “After a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts – the birthplace of the infamous holiday.”
The cast for the feature length slasher movie includes Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, Jalen Thomas Brooks (“Walker”), Milo Manheim (Zombies), Nell Verlaque (“Big Shot”), Gina Gershon (“Chucky”), Tim Dillon and Rick Hoffman (Hostel).
Roth wrote the script with Jeff Rendell. Roger Birnbaum and Eli Roth are producing.
Well, boils and ghouls, it seems the turkey’s out of the oven and it’s served with a side of terror! Eli Roth, the maestro of mayhem, has finally delivered the long-anticipated full-course meal that is ‘Thanksgiving,’ a film that promises to carve a permanent notch on the horror genre’s proverbial bedpost. And carve it did—at least, to the tune of $12 million worldwide on its debut weekend!
Now, my dark-hearted darlings, let’s sink our fangs into the meat of this news. A $15 million budget is pocket change in today’s cinematic economy, especially for a horror film that’s been simmering in the minds of gorehounds since its cheeky faux-trailer debut with ‘Grindhouse’ back in 2007. Yet, here we are, sixteen years later, and Roth has managed to resurrect the essence of that bloody promise into a full-fledged slasher feast.
Here’s the bone-chilling breakdown: ‘Thanksgiving’ gobbled up $10.2 million domestically, adding to a worldwide total of $12.6 million. Sure, it’s not the blockbuster blowout some might have expected, but in the realm of R-rated slashers, it’s a respectable haul. And let’s not forget, my eerie enthusiasts, that the real gravy lies not in the numbers, but in the fact that this flick has fans and critics salivating with an 83% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. That’s a rarity as delicious as finding a human head in your stuffing!
However, we must ponder whether ‘Thanksgiving’ will continue to feast or find itself left in the cold, much like the leftovers of its namesake holiday. Time will tell if it can butcher the box office turkey beyond the thematic window of the Thanksgiving season. But one thing’s certain: Eli Roth still knows how to dish out the dread.
‘Thanksgiving’ slices through the expected holiday cheer, delivering us to Plymouth, Massachusetts, where a post-Black Friday frenzy turns fatal as a killer, inspired by the very holiday itself, begins a spree of carnage. The cast is as eclectic as a Roth charcuterie board, featuring the likes of Patrick Dempsey and Addison Rae, with a mix of fresh and familiar faces that are sure to add a unique flavor to this horror holiday roast.
So, my fellow horror hounds, as we sit back and let the tryptophan of terror lull us into a contented slumber, let’s raise a glass to Eli Roth’s ‘Thanksgiving.’ It’s a film that’s been marinating in potential for over a decade and has now been served up to the masses. With its juicy blend of seasoned stars like Dempsey and sprightly newcomers like Addison Rae, the film promises to dish out suspense, screams, and a healthy helping of satire with its slasher sensibilities.
Let us not overlook the delectable irony that ‘Thanksgiving’ has been released during a time when most are giving thanks for family and fortune, yet Roth invites us to a table where the main course is terror. It’s a bloody banquet that turns the comfort of the holiday on its head, and serves it back to us with a side of savagery. This isn’t your grandma’s Thanksgiving, after all, unless granny was into carving more than just poultry.
The ensemble cast, a veritable smorgasbord of talent, is poised to bring a range of flavors to the film. From the heartthrob heroism of Patrick Dempsey to the influencer-tinged innocence of Addison Rae, there’s a character for every horror fan to root for—or to relish in their demise. And let’s not forget the veterans like Gina Gershon, who can bring a certain gravitas even to the most gruesome of scenes.
As we anticipate the next slice of box office pie, one must commend Roth and his co-scribe Jeff Rendell for penning what could very well become a cult classic. The question remains: Will ‘Thanksgiving’ have the legs to run past the holiday season, or will it be stuffed and mounted as a one-hit wonder? Only time will tell, but for now, it seems to have enough spice to keep the horror community abuzz.
So, my creepy compatriots, while the world busies itself with Black Friday sales and holiday parades, let’s bask in the blood-red glow of ‘Thanksgiving.’ It’s a testament to the power of independent horror and a reminder that sometimes the most fulfilling meals are those that take a little longer to cook. Here’s to hoping that ‘Thanksgiving’ continues to carve up the competition and that its success serves as a beacon for other filmmakers to bring their own long-gestating horror projects to the silver screen.
Keep your hatchets sharp, your ovens preheated, and your eyes peeled on Horror Facts for more shivering scoops on ‘Thanksgiving’ and all the latest in horror movie news. Until next time—remember, every day is a day to be thankful for horror.
As our sinister slice of November continues to unfold, ‘Thanksgiving’ stands as a potential harbinger for the resurgence of the slasher genre. Roth, who once reinvigorated the horror scene with his ‘Cabin Fever’ and ‘Hostel’ franchises, seems to be carving a path back to his roots, and we’re all too eager to follow the trail of breadcrumbs—or should I say, giblets?
This isn’t just another by-the-numbers slasher flick; it’s a hearkening back to the days when horror didn’t shy away from the excesses of the genre. It’s an unapologetic celebration of the slasher film, complete with all the trimmings. ‘Thanksgiving’ is drenched in nostalgia yet seared with modern-day sensibilities, a combination that could prove to be as potent as a secret family recipe passed down through generations of horror lovers.
The film’s success could be the catalyst for other directors to dig up their long-buried projects, resurrecting ideas that once seemed as dead as the victims in their would-be films. And who knows? Maybe ‘Thanksgiving’ will carve out a spot for holiday-themed horror to make a comeback. After all, who doesn’t love a little terror with their turkey?
As for the cast, they’re bound to become the subjects of many a horror fan’s discussions. Will Dempsey’s character be the hero we crave, or will he fall victim to the holiday horror? How will Addison Rae transition from social media sensation to scream queen status? And what grisly fates await the rest of the Plymouth pilgrims within the narrative? Each performance will be dissected with the precision of a carving knife at a Thanksgiving feast.
In the end, ‘Thanksgiving’ has offered us a seat at a table that is both strange and familiar. It’s a place where we can indulge our darkest appetites and revel in the bloodshed, all while witnessing a potential revival of the slasher film. So, as the box office numbers continue to roll in and the film’s fate hangs in the balance like a sharpened cleaver, let us give thanks for the scares, the screams, and the sheer audacity of Eli Roth’s latest endeavor.
Keep your eyes peeled on Horror Facts, my dear connoisseurs of the macabre, as we continue to track the trajectory of ‘Thanksgiving.’ Whether it becomes a perennial favorite or a curious footnote in horror history, you can count on your ghastly guide, Sharon, to bring you the juiciest morsels of mayhem.
