The top five list at the domestic box office this weekend will be bookended by two wildly different offerings — a well-liked sequel to a recent horror blockbuster, and a star-driven drama aimed at adult audiences. WhileSmile 2is expected to top the domestic charts this weekend with over $20 million, theAndrew GarfieldandFlorence Pughrelationship dramaWe Live in Timewill crack the top five as it expands nationwide. A trio of holdover hits of different shapes and sizes are looking to occupy the remaining three spots.
With over $9 million on opening day — this includes the $2.5 million that it made in Thursday previews —Smile 2iseying around $22 million across the weekend. Produced on a reported budget of under $30 million,Smile 2follows the surprise hit original film, which grossed more than $215 million globally in 2022. The firstSmileexceeded expectations in its debut, also grossing $22 million on the back of an excellent viral marketing campaign and solid reviews. But it earned around $1 million less than its sequel on opening day. The response toSmile 2has been even better, with a solid B CinemaScore from opening day audiences, and a “fresh” 84% rating on the aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes. Collider’sJeff Ewingcalled it “one of the year’s best horror films”in his review.
Smile 2’s arrival pushed last weekend’s champion,Terrifier 3, into a close race for the number two spot with DreamWorks’The Wild Robot. The unrated horror sequel defied the odds and delivered around $19 million in its debut weekend. It’s looking at a respectable drop in its sophomore frame, after generating around $3 million on Friday. The movie should be able to gross around $9 million over the weekend, sending its running domestic haul towards the $35 million mark.The Wild Robot,on the other hand,will pass the coveted $100 million milestoneby Sunday, if it is able to meet expectations and gross $10 million in its fourth weekend. The animated hit added $2.8 million to its domestic total on Friday.
A Trio of Holdover Hits Was Sandwiched Between Two New Releases this Friday
The number four spot is being claimed byBeetlejuice Beetlejuice; directorTim Burton’s sequel is maintaining a remarkable pace despite having played in theaters for a month and a half, and having debuted on PVOD platforms a while ago. The film will earn around $5 million this weekend, pushing its domestic haul to around $285 million. Does it have enough juice to hit the $300 million milestone? We’ll have to wait and watch.
After debuting in limited release last weekend,We Live in Timeexpanded into nearly 1,000 locations nationwide, grossing around $1.8 million on Friday. The moviewill take the fifth spot with approximately $4.5 millionby Sunday, which represents a strong $4,500 per-theater average. Elsewhere,Sean Baker’s Cannes-winningAnorais poised to deliver one of the best per-theater averages in years as it debuts in six locations. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Smile 2 is the sequel to the 2022 psychological horror film by director Parker Finn that centers on a therapist who witnesses a patient’s suicide, leading to a series of terrifying supernatural events. The sequel will see the return of Finn as director, with Paramount continuing distribution.
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