What is 'Send Help' about?

'Send Help' is a 2026 American dark comedy horror film directed by Sam Raimi, starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien as an employee and her boss stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash, attempting to survive amid rising tensions.

What were the box office earnings for 'Send Help' in its first two weekends?

'Send Help' debuted with $19.1 million in its opening weekend and earned $10 million in its second weekend, a 48% drop, for a North American total of $35.8 million and worldwide gross of $53.7 million.

Why did 'Melania' underperform at the box office?

'Melania' dropped 67% to $2.4 million in its second weekend, totaling $13.4 million, despite Amazon MGM Studios spending $40 million on U.S. rights and $35 million on marketing.

What is the significance of Super Bowl weekend for box office performance?

Super Bowl weekend is one of the slowest moviegoing periods each year, resulting in low turnout despite solid drops like 'Send Help's 48%.

What are the critical and audience reception scores for 'Send Help'?

'Send Help' received positive reviews, with a Metacritic score of 76/100 (generally favorable) and a CinemaScore audience grade of B+.

3 sources

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15d ago

Sam Raimi's 'Send Help' Repeats at No. 1; 'Melania' Drops 67%

Super Bowl weekend box office saw 'Send Help' earn $10 million while 'Melania' fell 67% to $2.4 million.

Overview

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

On Feb. 8, 2025, Disney-20th Century Studios' "Send Help," directed by Sam Raimi, repeated at No. 1 with $10 million in North American ticket sales, according to Comscore estimates.

The low turnout came during Super Bowl weekend, which industry analysts identify as one of the slowest moviegoing periods each year.

Kevin Wilson, head of domestic theatrical distribution for Amazon MGM Studios, said in a statement that the film's theatrical performance "validates our wholistic distribution strategy" ahead of its debut on Prime Video.

Amazon MGM paid $40 million for U.S. rights to "Melania" and spent about $35 million on marketing, studio records show.

Studios planned Super Bowl advertising for upcoming releases including The Walt Disney Co.'s "Mandalorian and Grogu," Lionsgate's "Michael" and Universal Pictures' "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," which could boost awareness ahead of wider releases.

Written using shared reports from

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Analysis

Compare how each side frames the story — including which facts they emphasize or leave out.

Center-leaning sources frame the story around box-office performance and commercial skepticism, using evaluative terms ('flop territory', 'much-discussed') and emphasizing financial details (rights and marketing costs). They foreground criticism via late-night hosts' quotes while also including studio defense (Kevin Wilson), producing a narrative that prioritizes commercial viability over artistic discussion.

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'Melania' falls, 'Send Help' holds steady at No. 1 on quiet weekend in theaters

ABC News•15d ago

'Melania' falls steeply and 'Send Help' holds steady at No. 1 on a quiet weekend in theaters

Associated Press•16d ago

How 'Melania' fared in its second weekend at the box office

USA TODAY•15d ago

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: 'Send Help' is a 2026 American dark comedy horror film directed by Sam Raimi, starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien as an employee and her boss stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash, attempting to survive amid rising tensions.
Sources:
Wikipedia
: 'Send Help' debuted with $19.1 million in its opening weekend and earned $10 million in its second weekend, a 48% drop, for a North American total of $35.8 million and worldwide gross of $53.7 million.
Sources:
Wikipedia
: 'Melania' dropped 67% to $2.4 million in its second weekend, totaling $13.4 million, despite Amazon MGM Studios spending $40 million on U.S. rights and $35 million on marketing.
Sources:
The Numbers
: Super Bowl weekend is one of the slowest moviegoing periods each year, resulting in low turnout despite solid drops like 'Send Help's 48%.
Sources:
CinemaBlend
: 'Send Help' received positive reviews, with a Metacritic score of 76/100 (generally favorable) and a CinemaScore audience grade of B+.
Sources:
Wikipedia

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