
Horror-Comedy 'Ghosts: The Possession of Button House' Dominates UK & Ireland Box Office Debut

By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie


By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Lionsgate UK's latest horror-comedy sensation, 'Ghosts: The Possession of Button House', has made a spectacular debut at the UK and Ireland box office. The film, which blends supernatural scares with comedic elements, captivated audiences across the region, securing the number one position in its opening weekend. This impressive performance signals a vibrant start for the movie, positioning it as a significant contender in the current cinematic landscape.
In a thrilling cinematic event that unfolded on the weekend of October 26, 2026, Lionsgate UK's much-anticipated horror-comedy, 'Ghosts: The Possession of Button House', soared to the pinnacle of the box office charts in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The film garnered an impressive £2.4 million (approximately $3.2 million) in its inaugural weekend, signaling a resounding success among moviegoers.
Trailing behind in a competitive second place was Warner Bros.' DC horror thriller, 'Clayface', which commenced its run with a notable $2.6 million. Amazon MGM Studios' comedy offering, 'Ali G: Who Iz I?', secured the third position, accumulating $1.7 million during its opening period. Following closely, Black Bear's animated fantasy 'Wildwood', under the direction of Travis Knight, debuted in fourth place with $1.36 million. Paramount's 'Street Fighter', which had previously led the box office, rounded out the top five in its second week, adding $1.35 million to reach a cumulative total of $5.6 million.
Other notable performances included Universal's animated feature 'Forgotten Island', which landed in sixth place in its second weekend, bringing its total to $3.7 million with an additional $1.2 million. Sony's psychological thriller 'Verity' continued its strong run in its fourth week, securing seventh place with an additional $857,067, pushing its cumulative gross to $14.4 million. Universal's supernatural horror 'Other Mommy' claimed eighth place in its third week, adding $576,822 for a total of $6.2 million. Mubi's 'Fatherland' made its debut at ninth, generating $264,083 from 86 locations, marking director Paweł Pawlikowski's most successful launch in the territory. Studiocanal's animated 'Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom' completed the top ten in its sixth week, bringing its total to $6.1 million with an additional $408,089.
Looking ahead, the cinematic calendar is packed with exciting releases. Mid-week event programming includes Trafalgar Releasing's broadcast of the Royal Ballet's 'Manon' on Tuesday, and the music documentary 'Ozzy & Black Sabbath: Back to the Beginning' on Wednesday. Friday will witness wide commercial rollouts, featuring Disney's documentary 'Everest: The Other Side', A24's dark comedy 'Primetime', Black Bear's comedy 'Wicker', and Kaleidoscope Entertainment's family comedy 'Arnie & Barney'. Additional releases include Universal's comedy 'I Love Boosters', Action Xtreme's 'Bad Day at the Office', Munro Films' documentary 'Peter Asher: Everywhere Man', and a 4K restoration of 'Pan’s Labyrinth'. Specialized and international titles also set to debut include BUFF Studios' 'City of Masks', Picturehouse Entertainment's 'Nightborn', Netflix's 'Gentle Monster', Studiocanal's 'Animol', and Metis Films' 'In the Shadows'. BFI Distribution will re-release a 4K restoration of Ken Russell’s classic 'The Devils', and Studiocanal will bow the 25th-anniversary 4K re-release of Richard Kelly’s 'Donnie Darko'. The weekend will conclude on Saturday with Trafalgar Releasing’s event cinema presentation of 'BTS World Tour ‘Arirang’ in Sao Paulo: Live Viewing'.
The impressive box office performance of 'Ghosts: The Possession of Button House' serves as a clear indication of the public's appetite for fresh, engaging content that skillfully combines humor with suspense. This success not only highlights the film's creative merit but also underscores the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of the film industry in the UK and Ireland. As audiences continue to seek diverse cinematic experiences, films that offer a unique blend of genres are poised to capture significant attention and achieve commercial success.
About the author

Acclaimed novelist ("Americanah") whose essays and talks offer sharp critiques of culture and feminism.

by Ta-Nehisi Coates
by Roger Ebert