LOS ANGELES – New psychological horror film ‘Smile’ has Paramount executives beaming after topping the North American box office with an estimated US$22 million (about RM102.23 million) in weekend ticket sales, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.
The film is the disturbing tale of a therapist (Sosie Bacon, daughter of actors Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick) whose grasp on reality begins to slip after she witnesses a shocking and gruesome event involving a patient.
“This is an excellent opening, the kind that launches a new horror series,” said analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. Such horror films, he noted, tend to have low budgets but loyal audiences – two things studios love.
Indeed, another psychological horror film, Warner Bros’ ‘Don't Worry Darling’, placed second for the Friday-through-Sunday period, pulling in US$7.3 million.
With Olivia Wilde acting and directing a cast that includes Florence Pugh, Chris Pine and pop icon Harry Styles, the film was last weekend's Number One.
In third, also down one spot, was Sony's history-inspired ‘The Woman King’, at US$7 million. Oscar winner Viola Davis stars as the leader of an all-female army of African warriors.
Fourth place went to Universal's new release ‘Bros’, at US$4.8 million. Gross said reviews for the movie – a rare gay romantic comedy from a major Hollywood studio – were “outstanding” thanks to its “knowing and relatable” humor. Billy Eichner co-wrote and stars in the film.
And in fifth was the re-release of 20th Century's 2009 blockbuster ‘Avatar’, at US$4.7 million. The studio is hoping the original will help build interest in a high-budget (US$250 million) sequel due in December, ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’.
Rounding out the top 10 were:
‘Ponniyin Selvan: Part One’ (US$4.1 million)
‘Barbarian’ (US$2.8 million)
‘Bullet Train’ (US$1.4 million)
‘DC League of Super-Pets’ (US$1.3 million)
‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (US$1.2 million) – AFP, October 3, 2022
