''Don't Breathe'' was released in the United States and Canada on August 26, 2016, and was originally projected to gross $11–14 million from 3,051 theaters in its opening weekend, with some estimates going as high as $20 million,<ref name="preview">{{cite web|url=http://deadline.com/2016/08/dont-breathe-suicide-squad-mechanic-resurrection-southside-with-you-hands-of-stone-1201808025/ |title=‘Don’t Breathe’ Could Suffocate ‘Suicide Squad’ During Sluggish Summer Weekend: Box Office Preview |work=deadline.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxoffice.com/weekend-forecast-dont-breathe-hands-stone-mechanic-ressurection/|title=Weekend Forecast: ‘Don’t Breathe,’ ‘Mechanic: Resurrection’ & ‘Hands Of Stone’|work=boxoffice.com}}</ref> and many publications noting it could be the first film to dethrone ''[[Suicide Squad (film)|Suicide Squad]]'' from the top of the box office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thewrap.com/horror-movie-dont-breathe-to-scare-off-suicide-squad-for-no-1-spot/|title=Horror Movie ‘Don't Breathe’ to Scare Off ‘Suicide Squad’ for No 1 Spot |work=thewrap.com}}</ref> It made $1.9 million from Thursday night preview screenings, at 2,500 theaters,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://deadline.com/2016/08/dont-breathe-suicide-squad-southside-with-you-mechanic-insurrection-box-office-1201809180/|title=‘Don’t Breathe’ Inhales Cash On Thursday Night – Box Office|author=Anthony D'Alessandro|work=''[[Deadline.com]]''|date=August 26, 2016|accessdate=August 26, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/weekend-box-office-dont-breathe-923073|title=Box Office: 'Don't Breathe' Inhales $1.9 Million Thursday|author=Rebecca Ford|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=August 26, 2016|accessdate=August 26, 2016}}</ref> and $10 million on its opening day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2016/08/27/box-office-dont-breathe-tops-suicide-squad-scares-up-10m-friday/#6cecbbb07ed6|title=Box Office: 'Don't Breathe' Tops 'Suicide Squad,' Scares Up $10M Friday|author=Scott Mendelson|work=[[Forbes]]|date=August 27, 2016|accessdate=August 28, 2016}}</ref> It fell just 1% on its second day that is on Saturday, earning an estimated $9.9 million which is extremely an amazing hold for an R-rated horror movie as they tend to be more or less front-loaded (earn big on its first day and drop tremendously from its second day onwards). By comparison to other horror films of the year, ''[[Lights Out (2016 film)|Lights Out]]'' had a drop of 22%, while ''[[The Conjuring 2]]'' fell by -15%.