Box Office Highlights: Smile 2 Sets the Stage with $23M Opening Weekend

Paramount Pictures and Temple Hill are celebrating a significant victory at the box office with the release of Smile 2, which is projected to rake in an impressive $23 million during its opening weekend. This figure includes $9.4 million earned on its debut Friday, featuring over $2 million from early previews. Notably, this opening surpasses the first Smile’s performance, which grossed $22.6 million in its opening weekend in September 2022, ultimately triumphing with over $217 million globally against a budget of merely $17 million.

Smile 2 continues the horror franchise’s strong performance.

Directed by the same visionary, Peter Finn, Smile 2 dives deeper into the terrors brought forth by a sinister entity, this time infecting a music star contending with her own demons. The film features a talented cast including Naomi Scott, Lukas Gage, Rosemarie DeWitt, and Miles Gutierrez-Riley. The sequel’s budget of $28 million positions it well against the backdrop of major studio features.

Audience Reception and Competition

Early audience feedback indicates a B CinemaScore, mirroring that of its predecessor. As Smile 2 climbs to the top, it faces competition from Terrifier 3, an indie slasher that debuted with a strong $18.9 million last weekend without a formal rating or significant advertising push. This weekend, Terrifier 3 is anticipated to secure between $9 million to $10 million, bringing its total to approximately $26 million against a mere $2 million budget.

The indie slasher genre continues to thrive alongside mainstream releases.

Interestingly, industry observers speculate that DreamWorks/Universal’s The Wild Robot could be siphoning off young viewers who, unable to access Terrifier 3 unaccompanied, are purchasing tickets for Wild Robot and sneaking into the former horror flick (a trend that may also hold true for Smile 2, rated R).

The Wild Robot crossed the $100 million mark domestically in its fourth week of release, solidifying its position as a family-friendly alternative to the horror-heavy slate.

Spotlight on Awards Season: Anora Shines Bright

On the awards front, the spotlight is on Sean Baker’s highly-anticipated film, Anora, which opened this weekend in five locations across New York City and Los Angeles. This poignant narrative, revolving around a stripper who finds romance with the son of a Russian oligarch, received the prestigious Palme d’Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Anora is on track to achieve an astounding per-theater average of about $108,000, marking it as the strongest performance since Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City last year.

Anora is creating waves this awards season.

Last weekend, several other Oscar contenders struggled when opting for a nationwide release instead of a platform strategy, including Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night. As awards season approaches, all eyes will be observing how films like Anora fare among critics and audiences alike.

In summary, the box office landscape is buzzing with excitement as Smile 2 finds its footing amidst the horror genre, while Anora prepares to carve its niche in the awards race. As the weekends progress, updates will be provided on these films’ performances and the shifting dynamics of the box office realm.