The post-apocalyptic zombie film We Bury the Dead, which opened widely on 2 January 2026, has suffered a severe tumble in its second weekend at the box office, marking one of the steepest declines recorded for a new release this year.
According to recent box office reports, We Bury the Dead experienced an 85.1 % drop in ticket sales during its second weekend in North America, falling from $2.5 million in its opening weekend to just $371,885 across roughly 851 theaters. That decline places the film among the seventh-worst second-weekend drops ever for a non-re-release, a surprising turn given its strong early critical reception and positive Rotten Tomatoes score.
Industry analysts believe the sharp box office fall was influenced both by stiff competition from other horror releases and a rapid reduction in theater count, with the film losing 321 locations versus its opening frame. Despite the drop, We Bury the Dead still holds a Certified Fresh rating, reflecting sustained critical praise even as audiences have shifted their viewing habits.
The film’s theatrical performance comes amid a packed January slate that has kept genre fans busy. Earlier this week saw the debut of Primate, a killer-chimp creature feature that opened on 9 January and has garnered its own buzz among horror circles. January’s upcoming highlights include the zombie sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple on 16 January and the survival horror adaptation Return to Silent Hill slated for 23 January.
Despite the unexpected box office stumble, We Bury the Dead’s strong reviews and festival pedigree, along with its thematic depth, suggest that the film may continue finding an audience through word of mouth and upcoming streaming windows.
For horror fans tracking the genre’s early-year performance, this latest box office story underscores how even well-reviewed movies can be hit or miss financially, especially in a crowded release calendar.
