‘Bros’ Fails at the Box Office, as ‘Smile’ Arrives at No. 1

“Smile,” a new horror movie from Paramount Pictures that cost an estimated $17 million to make, was No. 1 at North American theaters, with ticket sales between Thursday night and Sunday of about $22 million. “Smile” received strong reviews. “This is an excellent opening, the kind that launches a new horror series,” David A. Gross, who runs Franchise Entertainment Research, a film consultancy, said in an email.

In its second weekend, “Don’t Worry Darling” (Warner Bros.) was second, collecting roughly $7.3 million, for a total of $32.8 million. In its third weekend, “The Woman King” (Sony) was third, selling about $7 million in tickets, for a cumulative $46.7 million.

Universal’s marketing campaign for “Bros” started in May and emphasized its comedic bona fides; producers included Judd Apatow, the force behind hits like “Trainwreck” and “Bridesmaids,” and Nicholas Stoller, known for “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” Mr. Stoller also directed “Bros” and co-wrote the script. In August and September, Universal brought “Bros” to film festivals and screened exclusive footage in cities across the United States. Mr. Eichner aggressively promoted the movie, appearing on almost every major talk show and reviving his popular “Billy on the Street” comedy series.

Going into the weekend, stars like Chris Evans, Seth Rogen and Mariah Carey pleaded with people on Twitter to buy tickets for “Bros.”

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/02/movies/bros-smile-box-office.html