"Smile 2" Dominates the Box Office
The horror film "Smile 2" has emerged as the top contender at the North American box office, grossing an impressive $23 million during its opening weekend. This sequel, produced by Paramount and featuring Naomi Scott as a music star facing mysterious challenges, has surpassed expectations and outperformed its competitors, including the animated film "The Wild Robot," which secured the second position with $10.1 million.
Industry analyst David A. Gross praised the film's performance, describing its opening as "excellent" for a second installment in the franchise. The first film, directed by Parker Finn, opened with $22.6 million in 2022 and went on to gross $217 million globally. The success of "Smile 2" reflects a growing trend of horror films resonating with audiences, especially in a landscape recovering from the pandemic.
In third place, the independent horror film "Terrifier 3" earned $9.3 million, continuing the story of the infamous clown "Art" as he wreaks havoc during the Christmas season. Following closely behind, "Beetlejuice," featuring Michael Keaton reprising his role as the titular character, grossed $5 million. The romantic comedy "We Live in Time," starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, rounded out the top five with $4.2 million.
Box Office Rankings
Here’s a summary of the ten highest-grossing films at the North American box office:
- Smile 2 – $23 million
- The Wild Robot – $10.1 million
- Terrifier 3 – $9.3 million
- Beetlejuice – $5 million
- We Live in Time – $4.2 million
- Joker: Folie à Deux – $2.2 million
- Piece by Piece – $2.1 million
- Transformers One – $2 million
- Saturday Night – $1.8 million
- The Nightmare Before Christmas – $1.1 million.
