📞The Black Phone 2 (2025): The Dead Still Call — Box Office, Plot & Horror Returns

The Black Phone 2 has finally rung — and audiences are answering. The much-awaited supernatural horror sequel from Scott Derrickson has clawed its way into theaters, bringing back the eerie echoes of the first film while deepening its mythos of trauma, revenge, and unfinished business from beyond the grave.

Released on October 17, 2025, by Universal Pictures, the film has already terrified critics and moviegoers alike, grossing $42 million worldwide against a $30 million budget — proving once again that horror never dies, it just finds a new number to call.

☎️ A Call from the Past: Plot Summary

Four years after the events of the first film, Finney Blake (Mason Thames) and his sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) are still haunted — not by ghosts, but by memories. Their torment begins again when Gwen’s prophetic dreams return, pulling them toward a chilling mystery buried in the snow-covered grounds of Alpine Lake Camp.

What begins as a journey for truth soon turns into a descent into supernatural vengeance. The Grabber (Ethan Hawke), once a man of pure terror, finds a way to speak again — not from life, but through the static hiss of a dead payphone. “You thought you buried me, Finney... but some calls never end.”

The group, trapped by a blizzard, discovers that the Grabber’s evil roots run deeper — linked to their mother’s past and a string of murders dating back to the 1950s. In one of the film’s most harrowing scenes, Gwen faces her nightmares and her mother’s ghost in a dream soaked with regret and revelation.

🌨️ A Chilling Reunion: Cast & Performances

Actor	Role
Mason Thames	Finney, the survivor haunted by his past
Madeleine McGraw	Gwen, gifted with visions of the dead
Ethan Hawke	The Grabber, returning as a voice from the afterlife
Demián Bichir	Armando, the camp’s mysterious caretaker
Jeremy Davies	Terrence, the siblings’ father seeking redemption
Arianna Rivas	Mustang, a fearless ally at the camp
Anna Lore	Hope, the mother whose secrets connect the past and present

The performances, especially by Thames and McGraw, anchor the story with emotional weight, while Ethan Hawke’s spectral presence proves that some villains don’t need a body to terrify.

🎬 Behind the Scenes: Derrickson’s Dark Vision

Director Scott Derrickson, returning after the first film, continues to mix grief with ghost stories, exploring how trauma echoes like a phone call that never stops ringing.

The film’s snow-drenched cinematography by Pär M. Ekberg gives it a cold, dreamlike tone, contrasting the warmth of family reconciliation against the frost of death. The haunting score by Atticus Derrickson layers static, whispers, and lullabies into a soundtrack that chills your bones.

💀 Box Office: The Call That Paid Off

Despite strong competition from Truth & Treason and After the Hunt, The Black Phone 2 made $2.6 million from Thursday previews and is tracking for a $25 million opening weekend. With worldwide earnings already at $42 million, it’s shaping up as another profitable hit for Blumhouse Productions.

The audience response has been strong, with many calling it “a smarter, scarier sequel that expands the world without losing its heart.”

🕯️ Themes: Guilt, Faith & The Ghost of Redemption

Underneath its scares, The Black Phone 2 explores forgiveness — both of oneself and the dead. Finney’s confrontation with the Grabber mirrors his father’s guilt and Gwen’s faith, turning the film into a haunting parable about cycles of pain and the courage to end them.

As the Grabber snarls, “You can’t hang up on what’s inside you,” the line lands like a curse and a warning — one that resonates long after the credits roll.

🍿 Streaming & Availability

The Black Phone 2 is now playing exclusively in theaters and will later stream on Peacock and Amazon Prime Video after its theatrical window. Expect digital and Blu-ray release announcements in early 2026.

🧛‍♂️ Did You Know?

• The film’s opening dream sequence was inspired by The Shining and The Exorcist.

• Ethan Hawke recorded his lines as the Grabber remotely, layering distortion through analog tape for an authentic ghostly sound.

• The payphone prop used in the film is the same one from the first movie — aged and cracked to represent the passage of time.

❓ FAQs About The Black Phone 2

Q1. Is The Black Phone 2 scarier than the first one?

Yes — it’s more psychological and emotionally intense, diving deeper into Gwen’s dreams and Finney’s guilt. It’s less about jump scares and more about haunting dread.

Q2. Do I need to watch the first film to understand this sequel?

While the sequel stands on its own, watching The Black Phone (2021) enriches the story, as it continues Finney and Gwen’s emotional arc.

Q3. Will there be The Black Phone 3?

Director Scott Derrickson hinted in interviews that if The Black Phone 2 performs well, there’s potential for a third chapter focusing on the origins of the Grabber.

Q4. Where can I stream The Black Phone 2?

After its theatrical run, the movie will stream on Peacock and later on Amazon Prime Video, likely in early 2026.

Q5. What makes The Black Phone 2 unique among horror sequels?

It builds on the emotional trauma of the first film instead of simply repeating its scares — creating a chilling yet heartfelt continuation that feels both terrifying and cathartic.

🔔 Final Thoughts

The Black Phone 2 isn’t just another horror sequel — it’s a message from the other side, reminding us that grief, love, and guilt can haunt us more than any ghost. Derrickson has crafted a sequel that rings with emotion and dread, answering a call no one expected — but everyone felt coming.

“Sometimes the line between the living and the dead... is just a ring away.”