We Bury the Dead Box Office Report (2026): Opening Weekend, Total Earnings & Performance Breakdown

We Bury the Dead is a 2025 zombie survival horror-thriller written and directed by Zak Hilditch, starring Daisy Ridley, Mark Coles Smith, and Brenton Thwaites. After premiering at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival in March 2025, the film entered theaters in early 2026—and delivered a surprisingly strong box-office showing for an indie horror release.

Box Office Overview

Category	Earnings
Domestic (US)	$3,168,277
International	$18,347
Worldwide Total	$3,186,624

• Distributor (Domestic): Vertical Entertainment

• MPAA Rating: R

• Runtime: 1 hr 35 min

• Genres: Horror, Thriller

• Screens (Opening Weekend): 1,117

📈 Opening Weekend Performance

• Domestic Opening Weekend: $2,502,075

• This marked the biggest opening weekend in Vertical Entertainment’s history, a notable milestone for the distributor.

• The film earned nearly 80% of its total domestic gross in its first weekend—typical for genre-driven indie releases with front-loaded demand.

🌍 Regional Box Office Breakdown

🇺🇸 Domestic (United States)

• Release Date: January 2, 2026

• Total Gross: $3,168,277

🌍 Europe, Middle East & Africa

• Croatia

  • Release Date: January 1, 2026

  • Gross: $18,274

🌏 Asia-Pacific

• New Zealand

  • Release Date: February 5, 2026

  • Gross: $73

⚠️ International rollout was extremely limited, meaning the film’s revenue potential outside the US remains largely untapped—especially in horror-friendly markets.

🧟 Why the Box Office Result Matters

Despite modest marketing and a narrow theatrical footprint, We Bury the Dead performed exceptionally well for an indie zombie film, thanks to:

• Strong festival buzz from SXSW

• Daisy Ridley’s post-Star Wars star power

• A unique emotional hook—grief, guilt, and “unfinished business” driving the undead narrative

• Positive word-of-mouth among horror fans looking for something deeper than a standard zombie movie

🔮 What’s Next for We Bury the Dead?

While its theatrical run was short, the film is expected to gain a second life on streaming and VOD, where psychological horror films often outperform their box-office numbers. With its low budget and strong opening, the film is already considered a commercial success relative to scale.

We Bury the Dead didn’t need blockbuster numbers to win. With a $3.18M worldwide gross, a record-breaking opening for its distributor, and strong critical discussion, the film proves that smart, character-driven horror still sells—especially when paired with the right release strategy.