There’s just no stopping New Line’s It reboot at the box office, as Variety reports tonight that the film has now crossed $500 million worldwide, making it the highest grossing horror movie of all-time. The previous record holder, The Exorcist, sits at $441 million and has also been beaten out by It domestically, now that Andy Muschietti’s adaptation has taken in $272 million on home turf.
Speaking about this tremendous achievement, Sue Kroll, president of worldwide marketing and distribution at Warner Bros., said the following:
“Crossing $500 million is rarified air for any film, but for a horror film it is history-making, and we could not be prouder. The filmmakers and cast did more than make a box office hit; they created a communal, must-see moviegoing event that has reverberated around the globe and is still going strong. We congratulate Andy Muschietti, the extraordinary producing team, and everyone involved in ‘It’ on reaching this amazing milestone.”
Of course, given that the movie is only a few weeks into its theatrical run, there’s still a ton of time to bring in even more dough and you can bet that the studio execs are grinning from ear to ear right now, no doubt tremendously pleased with their decision to give the green light for a sequel.
Tentatively titled It: Chapter 2, things will pick up with the Losers Club 27 years after the events of It. Given that, we’re unclear as yet whether the film will herald the return of Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things), Sophia Lillis and the rest of the gang, but assuming director Andy Muschietti and Co. incorporate flashbacks into the story, there’s a very good chance New Line’s sequel will feature both the original Losers Club and their adult counterparts, as the fight against Pennywise begins to reach its bloody conclusion. Chalk that up as conjecture for now, though, as there’s currently no script in place.
Suffice it to say, it’s been an incredible first month for the movie and now that Pennywise has been banished for upwards of 27 years, the Losers Club will go their separate ways – at least, until the advent of It: Chapter 2 in 2019.