Fede Alvarez’s ‘Don’t Breathe’ continues to horrify audiences across the board, in a good way, having exceeded expectations for a small budget film. ‘Don’t Breathe’ debuted at number one in it’s opening weekend with $26.4M surpassing ‘Suicide Squad’ and ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’.

According to boxofficemojo Fede Alvarez’s film has made a total of $76.8M as of September 21, and has garnered rave reviews from critics and audiences. Rotten Tomatoes has ‘Don’t Breathe’ pinned as one of “two original movies to hit number one this entire summer.” 

When Latino productions earn favorable opinions and money it proves to Hollywood execs that these "minorities" in Hollywood can be trusted to perform and deliver solid returns on investments with sizable profits. This ensures that films by Latinos continue to be made, and supports the idea that diverse voices and artistic visions are worth the investment. The success of 'Don't Breathe' also goes to show that Latino directors aren't limited to niche genres or Latino-specific narratives.

Here is a movie that is entering into the American canon of budget-conscious horror, with a cast of primarily Caucasian American actors (with the notable exception of Daniel Zovatto, who is of Costa Rican origin), that appeals to a wide audience domestically and abroad. Fede Alvarez, like Iñarritu and Cuaron before him, continues to blaze a trail for all content creators.