Smile 2 Tops Box Office with $23M Debut

"Smile 2," the much-anticipated sequel to Paramount's psychological thriller, dominated the North American box office this weekend with a strong $23 million debut. The film matches the success of its predecessor, which opened to $22.6 million in 2022. The R-rated film also had an impressive global start with a combined $46 million. Directed by Parker Finn and starring Naomi Scott as a pop singer facing eerie occurrences on tour, "Smile 2" has been well-received, earning a solid "B" on CinemaScore, an improvement from the original's "B-." 

Meanwhile, several specialty films also made waves this weekend. A24's romantic drama "We Live in Time," starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, opened to $4.1 million in fifth place. Another indie standout was Sean Baker's "Anora," which brought in $540,000 from just six theaters, achieving the best screen average of the year and solidifying its status as a major contender in the upcoming awards season.

Warner Bros.' "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" maintained a strong presence, while Universal's family-friendly "The Wild Robot" held second place with $10 million in its fourth weekend. Conversely, "Joker: Folie à Deux" continued its disappointing run, earning just $2.18 million in its third weekend, well below expectations compared to the original film. 

With the fall season upon us, upcoming blockbusters like "Venom: The Last Dance" and "Gladiator II", are expected to drive future box office numbers.