Gay Dad Horror Knock at the Cabin Knocks Avatar From Box Office Perch

M. Night Shyamalan's Knock at the Cabin — a movie centered on a male couple and their daughter — was victorious at the box office, overcoming lukewarm word of mouth to knock Avatar: The Way of Water from the top of the box office.

James Cameron's mega-hit Avatar sequel came in third place, raking in over $10 million domestically for an over $2 billion global haul. Knock at the Cabin also bested 80 for Brady, the high-profile comedy starring legends Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Sally Field, and Rita Moreno. While 80 attracted many women and seniors, Knock was seen mostly by young men; 60 percent of the audience was between 18 and 24, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

While many audience members gave high marks to 80, the same could not be said for Knock, which received a C CinemaScore from patrons. The low score does not bode well for Knock's longevity at the box office and the film was Shyamalan's lowest North American opening in his decades-long career as a filmmaker.

Still, it's remarkable that a film with two married male protagonists (with a child) played by gay actors (Looking's Jonathan Groff and Spoiler Alert's Ben Aldridge) did so well and was so embraced by young male audiences. With an approximately $20 million budget, the film, distributed by Universal, should recoup its expenses and post a profit. Knock at the Cabin certainly changes the narrative of gay-centered films failing at the box office, like the very high-profile Brosdid last summer.

Knock at the Cabin also stars Dave Bautista, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Kristen Cui, Abby Quinn and Rupert Grint. It tells the story of a family confronted with a terrible choice that may determine the fate of humanity.

Watch the trailer for the film below.