Sat Oct 19 15:28:46 UTC 2024: **Summary of Key Points from the News Article:**

– **Paramount’s “Smile 2”:** The horror sequel opened with $23 million over the weekend, bettering its predecessor. The film received a B CinemaScore and saw positive word-of-mouth, especially on social media, with significant walk-up ticket sales.

– **Audience Demographics:** “Smile 2” attracted a diverse audience, with 31% of ticket buyers being men over 25. The age group of 18-34 comprised nearly 70% of its audience, while the diversity breakdown included 35% Caucasian, 33% Latino, 15% Black, and 11% Asian viewers.

– **Social Media Impact:** The movie had a large social media presence, reaching over 154 million followers across various platforms, surpassing other recent horror films.

– **Other Films Performing Well:**
– “We Live in Time,” a drama from A24, opened with around $4.3 million and received a positive audience score (94% on Rotten Tomatoes).
– “Anora,” a Cannes winner, achieved one of the best theater averages post-COVID with $630,000 at six theaters.
– “The Wild Robot” continued to perform strongly, totaling $102.3 million in its fourth weekend.

– **Mixed Results for Other Releases:**
– Disney’s re-release of “Hocus Pocus” is projected to reach $940K over the weekend.
– “Goodrich,” starring Michael Keaton, had a disappointing opening of about $600K.
– The overall box office this weekend was $71.3 million, down 15% from the previous year.

– **Trends and Comparisons:**
– “Smile 2” had a strong opening relative to industry expectations, with ticket sales partly attributed to franchise loyalty.
– The weekend was marked by a diverse slate of films, indicating a potential rebound for adult-targeted movies after recent struggles.

Overall, the article highlights the success of “Smile 2,” the strong performance of several other films, and the varying fortunes of new releases in a recovering box office landscape.

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