NEW YORK – This past weekend, the box office saw some exciting developments with the release of two noteworthy films: DC Studios’ “Clayface” and A24’s documentary “You Can See Everything.” “Clayface” debuted with a strong $24 million in its opening weekend, while “You Can See Everything” surprised many by earning $19.5 million in its first weekend of wide release.
Directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, “You Can See Everything” expanded from 855 theaters to 2,655, showcasing its broad appeal. With a total of $45.1 million in just two weeks, it’s already ranking among the highest-grossing documentaries in history.
What makes “You Can See Everything” particularly noteworthy is its ability to attract Gen Z audiences. As awards season approaches, the film’s chances of securing a nomination for Best Picture at the Oscars are increasing, which would mark a historic moment as it would be the first documentary ever nominated for Hollywood’s top honor.
David A. Gross, who runs the box office newsletter FranchiseRe, highlighted A24’s investment in this unique project. “A24 invested a reported $7 million in an interesting but complicated idea without a beginning, middle, or end, that’s turned into a zeitgeist film about money, dreams, truth, and reality,” he stated.
On the superhero front, “Clayface” had a solid launch, becoming the third theatrical release from DC under the new leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran. The film, which blends body horror with comic book elements, tells the story of Matt Hagen, a rising movie star who undergoes experimental surgery after being disfigured by a mob boss. While $24 million might seem modest for a superhero film, “Clayface” was produced on a budget of only $44 million, making it a profitable venture for the studio.
“Clayface” also performed well internationally, adding $19 million to its total. Following the disappointing performance of “Supergirl,” which grossed only $126 million worldwide against a $170 million production budget, “Clayface” is a welcome success for DC Studios. Audiences responded positively, giving the film an “A-” CinemaScore, a commendable rating for a horror film, and reviews have generally been favorable.
Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends for Rentrak, praised “Clayface” for taking creative risks. “It’s a great example of studios taking chances, with DC venturing into R-rated horror and body horror, something that’s certainly not your typical comic book movie,” he remarked.
In contrast, last weekend’s top film, the video game adaptation “Street Fighter,” saw a steep drop, falling 72% to $8.6 million in its second weekend. Made for about $80 million, it has grossed a total of $46.9 million domestically.
Other notable releases included “Wildwood,” Laika’s latest stop-motion animated film, which debuted in third place with $11.8 million from 2,779 locations. Despite its strong reviews and an “A” CinemaScore, the film’s high production cost of $100 million may hinder its profitability. The PG-13 fantasy follows a teenage girl on a quest to find her abducted brother in an enchanted forest.
Meanwhile, “Wicker,” a quirky love story starring Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård, opened with a solid $5.8 million in 1,471 theaters. Acquired for $2.5 million at Sundance, it has been well-received by audiences and critics alike.
However, not all films fared well. “Klara and the Sun,” directed by Taika Waititi, struggled to find an audience, earning only $725,000 at 880 theaters. Additionally, Amazon MGM chose not to report grosses for Sacha Baron Cohen’s “Ali G: Who Iz I?” following a backlash related to cultural appropriation.
Here’s a quick look at the top 10 movies by domestic box office for the weekend:
1. “Clayface,” $24 million.
2. “You Can See Everything,” $19.5 million.
3. “Wildwood,” $11.8 million.
4. “Street Fighter,” $8.6 million.
5. “Wicker,” $5.8 million.
6. “Other Mommy,” $3.9 million.
7. “Sense and Sensibility,” $3.4 million.
8. “Whalefall,” $3.2 million.
9. “Verity,” $3.1 million.
10. “Resident Evil,” $3 million.
