Thrilling Weekends: Horror Dominates Box Office, Indie Gem Shines

The domestic box office was ablaze this past weekend, with horror movies leading the charge and an Oscar contender making a sparkling debut. "Smile 2" and "Terrifier 3" emerged as the big draws for general audiences, while the Palme d'Or winner "Anora" secured the best per-theater average in over a year.

Captivating Chills and Thrills Sweep the Nation

Smile 2: A Supernatural Sequel Surpasses Expectations

The highly anticipated sequel to the 2022 supernatural horror hit "Smile" made a strong debut, taking the top spot at the box office. "Smile 2," directed by Parker Finn, who also wrote and directed the original, opened with a better-than-expected million. The film, which stars Naomi Scott as a pop star, was initially intended for streaming but was pivoted to a theatrical release by Paramount. The first "Smile" film became a sleeper hit, earning over 7 million against a million budget, and the sequel was rewarded with a slightly bigger budget and a commitment to a theatrical release from the start.

Terrifier 3: A Demon Clown's Reign of Terror Continues

In its second weekend, the low-budget horror film "Terrifier 3" proved to be another box office draw, earning an estimated .3 million and bringing its total to .2 million. The third installment of Damien Leone's demon clown franchise, which cost only million to produce, has been resonating with audiences, leading to speculation that some teenagers may have been buying tickets for the PG-rated "The Wild Robot" and then sneaking into the unrated "Terrifier 3." However, the film's success is undoubtedly due to its legitimate ticket sales, as Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore, noted that the movie's performance is a clear indication that it is "red hot right now."

The Joker's Downfall: A Sequel's Struggle

The big-budget sequel "Joker: Folie à Deux" continued its disappointing run, falling another 69% in its third weekend and earning only .2 million, bringing its domestic total to .4 million. This poor performance paved the way for the success of "Smile 2" and "Terrifier 3" at the top of the box office.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: A Supernatural Comedy Classic Endures

While horror and supernatural thrillers dominated the top of the charts, Warner Bros.' "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" continued to perform well, placing fourth in its seventh weekend and adding an additional million to its domestic total of 4 million. The film's enduring popularity is a testament to its enduring appeal as a beloved supernatural comedy classic.

We Live In Time: A Romantic Tearjerker Expands

The A24 release "We Live In Time," a romantic tearjerker starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, expanded to 985 theaters following its debut on 5 screens the previous weekend. The film earned .2 million over the weekend, with audiences skewing heavily towards those under 35 and female. The well-reviewed film is expected to continue its expansion in the coming weeks.

Anora: An Indie Gem Shines Bright

One of the weekend's brightest spots was the opening of Sean Baker's "Anora," which earned an estimated 0,000 from just six locations in New York and Los Angeles. This translated to a remarkable per-theater average of 5,000, the best since "Asteroid City's" 2,000 average last summer. The Neon release, a sensation at the Cannes Film Festival and a likely Oscar contender, stars Mikey Madison as a New York sex worker who falls for the son of a Russian oligarch. After several weeks of awards contenders and buzzy films struggling to connect with audiences, "Anora's" success is a promising sign that moviegoers are still seeking out artful, adult-oriented fare.As the fall movie season continues to unfold, the box office landscape remains diverse and dynamic. With a mix of big-budget blockbusters, horror hits, and critically acclaimed indie films, there is something for every type of moviegoer to enjoy. Industry analysts are optimistic about the "strong home stretch" ahead, with a great combination of movies both big and small vying for audience attention.