This weekend’s Box Office Report: Universal’s ‘Other Mommy’ is tracking for No. 1, while Aaron Sorkin’s ‘The Social Reckoning’ faces a tougher climb.
This weekend’s box office preview comes down to a horror movie and a prestige drama aimed at very different audiences. Universal‘s Other Mommy, starring Jessica Chastain, is tracking to open at No. 1, while Aaron Sorkin‘s The Social Reckoning arrives with awards ambitions but softer projections. Here is how the weekend of Oct. 9 to 11 is shaping up.
‘Other Mommy’ Is the Favorite
Rob Savage’s horror film, adapted from Josh Malerman’s novel Incidents Around the House, stars Chastain as a shape-shifting entity that takes the form of a little girl’s mother. Boxoffice Pro projects an opening between $17 million and $22 million, down from earlier tracking that reached as high as $35 million. Even at the low end, that would be a healthy start for an original horror title, and October is horror’s best month.
‘The Social Reckoning’ Faces a Tougher Climb
Sorkin’s drama about Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, starring Mikey Madison, Jeremy Strong and Jeremy Allen White, is projected to open between $6 million and $10 million. That is a long way from the $22.4 million debut of The Social Network in 2010, but the comparison is not entirely fair. Adult dramas have struggled theatrically since the pandemic, and this one is built for a long awards run rather than a big weekend. We covered its unusual Silicon Valley debut last month.
The comparable to watch is last weekend’s Digger. Tom Cruise‘s satire opened in a similar range, as we reported after its opening previews, and Sony will be hoping strong word of mouth gives The Social Reckoning the legs Digger lacked.
Box Office Report: Holdovers and Limited Releases
Verity, last weekend’s No. 1, is expected to fall to between $15 million and $20 million in its second weekend, which could put it in a close race for second. Anne Hathaway‘s Colleen Hoover thriller has been a reliable draw; read our Verity review.
In limited release, Neon opens Cristian Mungiu‘s Palme d’Or winner Fjord, with Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve, and Pan’s Labyrinth returns for its 20th anniversary in 4K and 3D. Animated family film Treasure Trekkers also opens wide.
Check back Sunday for full weekend estimates.
