Smile 2 Enjoys Strong Box Office Debut Amidst Busy Film Weekend

Paramount‘s latest horror installment, “Smile 2,” experienced a robust opening weekend at the box office, generating $23 million following a $9.4 million Friday. This figure surpasses initial projections and marks an improvement over the B- CinemaScore of its predecessor, earning a B rating from audiences.

The film’s demographic breakdown indicates that 31% of its viewers were men over 25, with significant viewership from other groups, including men under 25 and women both over and under 25. The film also had a good turnout across diverse ethnicities, featuring 35% Caucasian, 33% Latino and Hispanic, 15% Black, and 11% Asian.

“Smile 2” maintained a strong social media presence leading up to its release, garnering 154.4 million followers across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. RelishMix analysts noted a 11 to 1 repost rate of its trailers, signaling audience anticipation.

According to Deadline’s sources, the film’s success is underscored by the positive reception of its new thematic elements. Fans of the series expressed their enthusiasm for the sequel’s innovative approach to horror while maintaining the terror that characterized its predecessor.

Elsewhere in the box office, Studio Canal and A24’s title attracted $4.3 million, while NEON‘s exclusive release of Sean Baker‘s “Anora” achieved a standout debut, posting significant per-theater averages. Meanwhile, Disney‘s re-release of “Hocus Pocus” continues to attract viewers, contributing to its lifetime gross of over $50.2 million.

However, Ketchup Entertainment faced challenges with its release of a Michael Keaton and Mila Kunis-led dramedy drawing in $600,000 across 1,055 theaters.

Despite the impressive figures for “Smile 2” and other films, the overall box office revenue for the weekend was down 15% compared to the previous year, which was driven by hits such as “Taylor Swift: Eras Tour.”