Paramount’s Smile 2 made $2.5M from previews last night that began at 5 PM at 3,000 locations, which is half a million higher than the 2022 movie’s $2M preview figure. Smile went on to make a $22.6M opening and leg out to $105.9M. Presales indicated high teens for Smile 2, however, perhaps Paramount execs will have something to grin about over the weekend as the sequel may perform even better. Smile 2 occupies all the PLF screens this weekend, while IMAX screens feature Warner Bros’ Joker: Folie à Deux.
The film is certified fresh with an 85% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, and PostTrak exits from fans last night are rated at 3.5 stars with 71% positive sentiment. Latino and Hispanic moviegoers account for 36%, while Caucasians represent 40%, Black moviegoers at 11%, and Asian Americans at 7%.
Today, the sequel opens on 3,619 screens. Smile architect Parker Finn returns for this installment, which cost $28M to produce. The movie stars Aladdin’s Naomi Scott as a pop star who encounters grinning individuals while on tour.
Smile 2’s preview earnings are comparable to Blumhouse/Universal’s Tuesday preview of The First Purge, which also garnered $2.5M in 2018, leading to a $17.3M opening weekend and a 5-day total of $31.2M.
Cineverse’s surprise hit Terrifier 3 has racked up an estimated $1.5M yesterday, down 16% from its previous week, for a first-week total of $26.9M.
A24’s gradual expansion of We Live in Time saw $500K last night in previews as it heads to 955 theaters this weekend. The Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh romantic drama received a 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Hope is high for another romance comeback at the box office with this film, which currently counts $820K in total domestic earnings after launching in five NYC and LA theaters with an opening of $225.9K.
Ketchup Entertainment
There were previews last night for Ketchup Entertainment’s Michael Keaton and Mila Kunis dramedy, Goodrich. While waiting on the final figures, audience reactions were excellent, with a 5-star rating and 93% positivity among viewers. The turnout consisted of 61% men and 39% women, with 65% of attendees being over 35 years old. Critics have given it a 68% fresh rating. The film’s synopsis: Andy Goodrich (Michael Keaton) faces life challenges when his wife and mother of their nine-year-old twins enters a 90-day rehab program, leaving him alone with their young kids. As he navigates modern parenthood, Goodrich finds support from his daughter Grace (Mila Kunis) and starts to grow into the father she always needed.