Horror is one of the most reliable genres at the theaters. Horror’s dependability will be put to the test this weekend with Primate, a natural horror movie about a killer chimpanzee. Will Primate have a successful opening weekend at the box office?
What is Primate About?
Something is wrong with Ben.
In Primate, Ben is an adopted chimpanzee who now lives with a family. When a group of friends comes to visit for a tropical vacation, Ben seems to be in a happy state.
One night, an animal sneaks into Ben’s cage and bites him. As a result of the injury, Ben becomes violent and attacks the girls.
What was supposed to be a vacation transforms into a nightmare as Ben stalks every human in his path.
Primate stars Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, Victoria Wyant, Gia Hunter, Benjamin Cheng, Charlie Mann, Tienne Simon, Miguel Torres Umba, and Oscar-winning actor Troy Kotsur.
Johannes Roberts directs Primate from a screenplay he co-wrote with Ernest Riera. Producers include Walter Hamada, John Hodges, and Bradley Pilz.
Primate opens in theaters on January 9, 2026.
Primate Box Office Odds
| Primate Box Office Opening Weekend—Domestic | Odds |
|---|---|
| Less than $9 million | -122 |
| $9 million to $11 million | +144 |
| $11 million to $13 million | +733 |
| Over $13 million | +1329 |
Early January is a popular release window for horror movies.
Last year, the big horror release was Wolf Man, which disappointed with a $35 million gross on a $25 million budget.
In 2024, Night Swim grossed a respectable $54 million on a $15 million budget. If Primate does the same, it would be a small hit.
In 2022, M3GAN became a worldwide sensation, finishing with a $181 million gross.
Primate is tracking to an opening between $8 million and $10 million. Polymarket has the odds of an opening of less than $9 million at -122. Primate’s budget is only $24 million.
Primate will be in a battle for second place with Greenland 2: Migration. The Gerard Butler sequel is pacing for an opening slightly above $10 million, but it will be close.
No movie can stop Avatar: Fire and Ash this weekend. The James Cameron epic movie is expected to win the weekend for a fourth consecutive week. Fire and Ash is projected for an opening north of $20 million.
