DC Studios’ body-horror entry “Clayface” grossed an estimated $3.5 million in Thursday evening previews, setting up a competitive race for the top spot at the domestic box office this weekend, Deadline reported.
Directed by James Watkins and written by Mike Flanagan, the film marks the third theatrical release from DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, following “Superman” and this past summer’s “Supergirl.” The standalone narrative focuses on Matt Hagen, played by Tom Rhys Harries, an aspiring actor who undergoes a radical and disfiguring transformation and seeks help from a scientist, played by Naomi Ackie.
A Lower-Budget Gamble for DC
Unlike recent big-budget comic book spectacles, “Clayface” was produced for a relatively economical net budget of $44 million before marketing expenses, according to Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. That lean investment stands in stark contrast to July’s “Supergirl,” which struggled to find momentum, finishing its run with $126 million globally against a $170 million production cost.
Industry forecasts project “Clayface” to collect between $20 million and $35 million across North American theaters through Sunday. Warner Bros. expects a launch between $25 million and $30 million from more than 3,400 domestic venues, along with an estimated $20 million to $25 million from 76 international territories, The Hollywood Reporter reported.
The $3.5 million preview haul outperformed other recent R-rated villain-centric releases, such as Sony’s “Kraven the Hunter,” which earned $2 million in previews before stumbling to an $11 million debut, Deadline noted. Reviews have also leaned positive, with the film scoring around 75 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, outpacing several recent DC installments.
Documentary Threatens Upset
Despite the solid start, “Clayface” faces a stiff challenge for the weekend crown from A24’s “You Can See Everything,” a stranger-than-fiction documentary about Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim. After generating a massive $15.6 million opening in just 855 theaters last weekend, the documentary is expanding into 2,600 locations.
Box office analysts project the Holmes film could bring in $20 million to $25 million in its second frame, according to Variety. If it maintains its midweek momentum, it could deliver a rare sophomore surge and threaten to dethrone the comic book newcomer.
Crowded Weekend at Cinemas
Several other specialized titles debuted in theaters alongside “Clayface”:
- Laika Studios’ stop-motion adventure “Wildwood,” directed by Travis Knight, took in around $1 million in previews and is tracking an opening frame of $6 million to $8 million against its $100 million budget, according to Variety.
- Black Bear’s romantic fantasy “Wicker,” which stars Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård, is also eyeing a $6 million to $8 million debut in nearly 1,500 locations.
- Sony’s dystopian drama “Klara and the Sun,” directed by Taika Waititi and starring Jenna Ortega, is pacing toward roughly $2 million in a scaled-back release of around 850 theaters following negative critical notices.
- Amazon MGM Studios opened Sacha Baron Cohen’s mockumentary “Ali G: Who Iz I?” in 125 theaters for a brief theatrical engagement before its streaming release.
Final weekend numbers will reveal whether DC’s horror experiment secures first place or if A24’s documentary juggernaut pulls off an unusual box office upset.
