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It takes less to put smiles on exhibitors’ faces these days — and SMILE 2’s $23M opening was just enough!

Earlier in the weekend when Hollywood handicappers were only projecting around $13M for S2, things were looking grim. But horror fans — plus  some killer marketing by Paramount — saved the day and kept multiplex parking lots busy. That, of course, generates concession stand lines, which is what’s keeping the lights on for exhibition in times like these.

Paramount/Temple Hill Entertainment’s R rated S2 kicked off #1 to $23M at 3,619 theatres ($6,355), per Comscore. S2 also opened to $23M internationally for a worldwide cume of $43M. It reportedly cost a modest $28M and is likely to spawn a third franchise episode.

S2’s tracking best for first choice with under 25 women (13 points over norm) and next best with women over 25 (seven points over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics & audiences are equally happy at 83%.

The original SMILE opened 9/30/22, during the Pandemic, to a then hot $22.6M. It grossed $217.4M worldwide on a budget of $17M.

This weekend’s domestic marketplace totaled $68.5M, per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian, down 10.7% from the prior weekend and down 22% vs. this time last year. Comscore’s year to date tally has 2024 at $6.64B, down 11% from $7.49B in 2023. The previous weekend, 2024 was also down 11% vs. 2023.

Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Universal/Dreamworks Animation’s family audience hit THE WILD ROBOT held on to second place in weekend four with $10.1M (-28%) at 3,829 theatres ($2,638). WILD’s done $101.7M domestic and $196M worldwide.

The slasher hit TERRIFIER 3 from indie distrib Cineverse held well in weekend two in the face of horror audience competition from S2, placing third with $9.3M (-51%) at 2,762 theatres ($3,370) — an increase of 248 theatres for the unrated movie. It’s done $36.2M domestic.

WB/DC’s BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE was #4 in weekend seven with $5M (-32%) at 3,251 theatres ($1,538). It’s done $284M domestic and $434.6M worldwide.

WB/DC’S disaster JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX was a distant #6 in weekend three with $2.2M (-69%) at 2.857 theatres ($763) — a loss of 1,245 theatres. It reportedly coast $200M to produce and has done $56.4M domestic.

Next weekend (10/25): October should end with some boxoffice sizzle as Sony/Marvel’s PG-13 sci-fi action adventure VENOM: THE LAST DANCE opens at about 4,000 theatres.

It’s tracking best for first choice with under 25 men (16 points over norm) and next best with men over 25 (14 points over norm). No Rotten Tomatoes scores yet. In DANCE, Tom Hardy returns as Eddie Brock & Venom for the trilogy’s final film.