Box Office: ‘Smile 2’ Sinks Teeth Into $9.4 Million Opening Day

As an avid movie enthusiast with years of experience under my belt, I must say that the current state of the box office is nothing short of exhilarating! The success story of “Smile 2” is truly heartening, especially considering its humble beginnings as a modestly budgeted horror film. To see it now dominating the charts and garnering positive reviews is a testament to the power of great storytelling and effective marketing.

The movie “Smile 2” is seeing widespread excitement at the ticket counters, as it raked in $9.4 million during its first day of release and previews from 3,619 cinemas across the U.S. This opening day haul surpasses the $8.2 million earned by the original “Smile” in 2022, indicating a strong start for this sequel. With a production budget of $28 million, it’s clear that the film is off to a promising box office run.

As the spooky spirit of Halloween continues, “Smile 2” is poised to rake in earnings during the upcoming weeks. The query now is how effectively it can mirror the longevity of its precursor. Originally intended for a streaming debut, “Smile” was later moved to a wide theatrical release following promising test viewings. Aided by some catchy marketing strategies, the budget-friendly horror flick managed a remarkable $22 million opening weekend, and then declined by just 18% in its second week, eventually grossing $105 million domestically and boasting a superb 4.68 multiplier.

Parker Finn’s distressing blockbuster hit “Smile,” which has been one of the most successful feel-good films in recent years, particularly within the horror genre, continues to shine brightly at the box office two years later. Shortly after its release, Paramount announced a sequel, and now, it’s reclaiming the top spot once more. Although achieving a 4.68 multiplier again might be challenging, “Smile 2” has garnered enough positive reactions to maintain its run. The film received praise from critics, with many commending Naomi Scott’s lead performance and the escalation of the story into the high-stress realm of pop fame. Audiences polled by research firm CinemaScore gave it a “B” grade — a strong rating for a horror movie, which typically scores lower than other genres, and an improvement from the “B-” that the original “Smile” received.

Over the weekend, A24’s emotional film “We Live in Time,” featuring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, is set to extend its release to 955 theaters, following a initial screening in New York and Los Angeles. This expansion could potentially place it among the top five films domestically, as it reportedly earned approximately $1.8 million on Friday. Directed by John Crowley, this movie resonated with audiences at its Toronto International Film Festival debut and has since garnered numerous positive reviews.

I’m still captivated by the mesmerizing mechanics of Universal’s “The Wild Robot” in its fourth week on the big screen. Predictions suggest that this DreamWorks Animation masterpiece will surpass the $100 million mark in domestic sales by Sunday, placing it among only 16 movies released this year to achieve such a milestone.

Over the weekend, the top-grossing movie “Terrifier 3” has slipped down to third place in its second week. Given that it attracted a large audience on its opening day, a slight drop in earnings is common for franchise films. Cineverse’s horror sequel is projected to bring in approximately $2.9 million on Friday and potentially surpass $30 million overall by Saturday in the U.S. The film, which is unrated and extremely graphic, has had a successful run as an independent feature.

In its seventh week, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” remains one of the top five movies, with a strong performance that could soon surpass “Dune: Part Two.” On Friday alone, it brought in $1.4 million, positioning itself to overtake “Dune: Part Two’s” ($282 million) domestic earnings and become the fourth highest-grossing film of 2024, just behind “Inside Out 2,” “Deadpool & Wolverine,” and “Despicable Me 4.” In stark contrast, Warner Bros.’ “Joker: Folie à Deux” experienced a significant drop in its second week, falling by 81%, and has now left the top five domestic releases after three weeks.

Initiating its debut in select cinemas, Neon has commenced the distribution of Sean Baker’s critically acclaimed film “Anora”. The movie is now playing in six theaters across New York and Los Angeles. Industry predictions suggest that the Palme d’Or winner grossed approximately $310,000 on its opening day, a promising start as Neon aims for an extended run during awards season.

2024-10-19 18:46

Box Office: ‘Smile 2’ Sinks Teeth Into $9.4 Million Opening Day

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