'Black Phone 2' Quietly Arriving on Netflix Following Box Office Success

Black Phone 2 will arrive on Netflix in the United States on May 16, 2026. The horror sequel was released in theaters last fall, where it dominated the box office for several weeks.

Scott Derrickson's sequel takes place several years after the breakout horror hit The Black Phone, exploring how protagonist Finney (Mason Thames) has been affected by his traumatic experience with the enigmatic 'Grabber' (Ethan Hawke). When the serial killer seemingly returns from the dead, he's forced into one more fight to protect himself and his family.

The Black Phone was released in 2021 and became an immediate hit-despite being a totally original idea that's not based on an existing franchise. The original movie opened to $23 million against a reported budget of just $18 million, with a strong word-of-mouth campaign helping the film reach $161 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo).

It was a rare example of an original horror movie overcoming the odds and attracting a wide audience. Black Phone 2 faced the pressure of proving that the first movie's success wasn't a fluke.

Luckily, Black Phone 2 was another huge commercial success. The sequel raked in $132 million worldwide against an approximate budget of $30 million, marking another huge profit for Bumhouse (via Box Office Mojo).

While reviews of Black Phone 2 were much harsher than the original film, general audiences seemed to welcome the sequel with open arms. With an audience score of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, Black Phone 2 surpassed expectations and remains one of last year's most profitable original horror movies.

Black Phone 2 will arrive on Netflix in the U.S. on May 16, 2026. Those who can't wait that long to watch this ambitious horror sequel can purchase or rent the film on any major VOD platform, such as Apple TV or Amazon Prime Video.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Apr 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 6:33 AM.