This weekend’s “Smile 2” and last weekend’s “Terrifier 3” opening at number one were only possible because of the failure of “Joker: Folie à Deux.”
WASHINGTON — Oscar nominees are off to a bright start this weekend as a horror movie tops the domestic box office charts. “Smile 2” in its first weekend and “Terrifier 3” in its second weekend were big hits with North American general movie audiences, while Palme d’Or winner “Anora” had the highest per-theater average in the United States. Obtained. Over 1 year.
According to studio estimates on Sunday, “Smile 2” surpassed expectations and became a major newcomer, earning $23 million, taking first place. Parker Finn returns to write and direct a sequel to the supernatural horror film Smile, marking his feature debut. It was originally intended for streaming. , Paramount reversed course and released the film theatrically in the fall of 2022. “Smile” was a sleeper hit at the box office, earning approximately $217 million against a budget of $17 million.
The sequel, starring Naomi Scott as the pop star, had a slightly larger budget and a theatrical approach from the start. It was shown on 3,619 screens and grossed just over $22 million in its first run.
In second place was Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s “The Wild Robot,” which earned $10.1 million in its fourth weekend, taking its box office gross in North America to over $100 million. Family movies, especially well-received ones like Wild Robot, tend to run longer in theaters, and this weekend teenagers bought tickets to the PG-rated family movie and then watched Terrifire 3. Some people speculate that it may have become more popular by sneaking into the TV show. ” and not rated. In any case, Damian Leone’s demonic clown movie cost just $2 million to make and is doing more than well with legitimate ticket buyers. An estimated $9.3 million was added, bringing the total to $36.2 million.
“Those rumors are a PR treasure,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at ComScore. “There’s no better indication that that movie is at its peak right now.”
This weekend’s “Smile 2” and last weekend’s “Terrifier 3” opening at number one were only possible because of the failure of “Joker: Folie à Deux.” The big-budget sequel continued its death march into its third weekend, dropping another 69% to $2.2 million for a domestic total of $56.4 million.
Warner Bros.’ Beetlejuice fared even better, earning an additional $5 million in its seventh weekend to take fourth place for a domestic total of $284 million. Star Michael Keaton also had another movie scheduled for release this weekend. The father-daughter drama “Goodrich” managed to sell for just $600,000 from 1,055 locations.
Rounding out the top five was the romantic tearjerker “We Live in Time,” which expanded to 985 theaters following its five-screen release last weekend. The A24 release, starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, grossed $4.2 million over the weekend. According to exit polls, 85% of the audience was under 35 and 70% were women. The film, which received positive reviews, is set to expand further next weekend.
One of the other bright spots this weekend was Sean Baker’s “Anora,” which opened in six locations in New York and Los Angeles and earned an estimated $630,000. That’s an average of $105,000 per theater, the highest since last summer’s Asteroid City averaged $142,000. The Cannes sensation and likely Oscar nominee “Neon” stars Mikey Madison as a New York sex worker who falls in love with the son of a Russian oligarch.
After weeks of award nominees and buzzwords (such as Piece by Piece, Saturday Night, and The Apprentice) that thrilled audiences, Anora’s success is a sign that moviegoers are still interested in the artistry. That’s a promising sign that you’re looking for high-priced movies, adult fare.
“For movie fans, there’s a lot to offer for all kinds of movies in all categories,” Dergarabedian said. “I think we’ll have a really strong homestretch with a great mix of big and small movies.”
The Walt Disney Company also made waves with several re-releases. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” cracked the top 10 with $1.1 million, and “Hocus Pocus” earned $841,000.
Next weekend, the big studio comic book movie Venom: The Last Dance will be released, as well as the award-winning papal thriller Conclave, which will grab the attention of audiences.
Estimated ticket sales from Friday through Sunday in U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Final national figures will be released on Monday.
1. “Smile 2,” $23 million.
2. “Wild Robot,” $10.1 million.
3. “Terrifier 3,” $9.3 million.
4. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” $5 million.
5. “We Live in Time,” $4.2 million.
6. “Joker: Folie à Deux,” $2.2 million.
7. “Piece by Piece,” $2.1 million.
8. “Transformers One,” $2 million.
9. “Saturday Night,” $1.8 million.
10. “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” $1.1 million.
