Despite meeting its production budget, Sony’s recently released horror film, ‘Tarot,’ opened to disappointing numbers, landing in fourth place at the box office. This underperformance joins a string of recent horror movies that have fallen short of expectations, casting a shadow over the genre’s performance in 2024.
The film, which follows a group of friends who unleash evil through a tarot card reading, received lukewarm reviews, boasting only a 12% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 58% audience approval score. Critics criticized its bland plot, underdeveloped characters, and an uninspired execution.
A Still From Tarot (Via IMDB)
The underperformance of ‘Tarot’ highlights a broader trend in the horror genre this year. Other highly anticipated films like ‘The First Omen’ and ‘Abigail’ also failed to resonate with audiences, despite receiving generally positive reviews. This string of flops stands in stark contrast to the success of last year’s ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s,’ which achieved remarkable success despite being released simultaneously on streaming and in theaters.
The disarray in the genre suggests a potential shift in audience preferences or challenges in delivering fresh and charming horror experiences. With major releases like ‘Trap,’ directed by M. Night Shyamalan, still to be released, the future of the horror movie in 2024 remains uncertain.
