“Smile 2” is spreading its eerie grin across theaters, laughing all the way to the bank with a bloody good $46 million opening weekend.
The horror sequel, picking up the torch from 2022’s “Smile,” grabbed $23 million from North American box offices, claiming the No. 1 spot amid a quieter-than-usual weekend. Another $23 million from international markets brings its global haul to an impressive $46 million. Directed by Parker Finn, the film stars Naomi Scott as a pop singer facing disturbing experiences while on tour—and yes, that sinister smile is back, wreaking its ominous havoc.
Naomi Scott’s character Skye is, once again, haunted by a nightmarish grin that passes from one person to another, bringing tragedy in its wake. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Finn shared that he consciously wanted to go in unexpected directions with the sequel. “I wanted to raise the question, ‘Did we do this to Skye?’” he said. “I threw out my initial ideas because they felt too obvious. I wanted people to say, ‘I can’t believe this is where Smile went.'”
Not everyone wanted nightmares this weekend, though. “The Wild Robot” brought in a refreshing breeze of whimsy, earning $10.1 million domestically—not bad for a movie now available to stream. Directed by Chris Sanders (“Lilo & Stitch,” “How to Train Your Dragon”), the animated flick has now crossed $193 million globally. It features a star-studded voice cast led by Lupita Nyong’o as Roz, the gentle robot making friends with forest animals.
Meanwhile, “Terrifier 3” is still running its nightmare circus, sitting at No. 3 with $9.3 million added to its domestic total of $36.2 million. Art the Clown continues to chill audiences with the franchise’s signature blend of surrealist horror—already topping the box office performance of its predecessor, “Terrifier 2,” which ended its run at $15.7 million worldwide.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Stays Spooky; “We Live in Time” Showcases Heartache
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” remains stubbornly undead, taking in another $5 million to reach a domestic total of $283.9 million, with $434.5 million globally. Tim Burton’s sequel features Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, and Michael Keaton reprising their roles—plus the addition of Jenna Ortega as Lydia Deetz’s rebellious daughter, Astrid.
Rounding out the top five, “We Live in Time” continues to charm in its second week, adding $4.1 million domestically. Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield deliver an emotionally resonant performance as two unlikely lovers navigating grief, love, and fate. Garfield told EW, “Grief is a gift… It’s a reminder of how much you loved and how much you continue to love.”
Anora Impresses in Limited Release
While it didn’t break into the top five, “Anora”, Sean Baker’s latest project, made quite the splash in its limited release debut. The modern Cinderella story, starring Mikey Madison, brought in $540,000 from just six theaters. The film, which won the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, follows Ani, a Brooklyn-based sex worker, as her life is flipped upside down after marrying the son of a Russian billionaire. Baker’s signature touch is present throughout, and his willingness to swing between genres gives “Anora” a delightfully unpredictable energy. The film expands nationwide on Nov. 8.
So, whether you were up for bloody smiles, unsettling clowns, or heart-tugging romance, this weekend had something for every mood—or if all else failed, the Beetlejuice family stood by, ready to give another tour through the afterlife.
